WASHINGTON, June 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four days before the
 Senate Judiciary Committee's scheduled confirmation hearing on the
 nomination of William W. Mercer to be Associate Attorney General, Bush
 Administration officials Friday afternoon informed the panel's chairman,
 Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), that the White House is withdrawing the
 nomination. Below is a comment from Chairman Leahy:
     "The White House has found many ways to keep sunlight from reaching
 some of the darker corners of the Bush Justice Department, but this is a
 new one. With a confirmation hearing looming next Tuesday, they have
 withdrawn this nomination to avoid having to answer more questions under
 oath."
 
 

SOURCE Office of Sen. Patrick Leahy