Miers Nomination Withdrawn

On Thursday, President George W. Bush accepted a request from Harriet Miers to withdraw her nomination to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Both the President and Ms. Miers blamed her withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White House documents.

“As you know, members of the Senate have indicated their intention to seek documents about my service in the White House in order to judge whether to support me,” Miers wrote in her letter to the President. “I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy.”

In his statement announcing the withdrawal, President Bush sounded the same theme. “I understand and share her concern, however, about the current state of the Supreme Court confirmation process,” the President said. “It is clear that Senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House – disclosures that would undermine a President’s ability to receive candid counsel.”

The President will now make a new selection to fill the Supreme Court seat to be vacated by retiring Associated Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

“My responsibility to fill this vacancy remains,” the President said in a statement. “I will do so in a timely manner.”