Collins favors Lieberman as security leader Senator: Move could be unifying

AUGUSTA – Sen. Susan M. Collins predicted Monday that President Bush could name his next nominee for homeland security chief as soon as the end of the week and that the administration would be wise to consider Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman for the job.

Collins, who heads the Senate committee that will take up the nomination, said the president indicated in his first press conference after the Nov. 2 election that he wanted to have Democrats serve in his administration.

“He said he wanted to reach across the aisle, and this would be a great way to do it,” Collins said during a stop at the Maine State Armory. “There’s no doubt that Joe would provide strong leadership, and he’s exceptionally well-qualified for the post. I think he’d be terrific.”

Collins also maintained that Asa Hutchinson, the current assistant secretary for the Homeland Security Department, would be a great choice for the security position. The agency was created after Sept. 11, 2001, to improve coordination and protection against future terrorist attacks.

Lieberman, who wrote the legislation that created the security department, could be a unifying appointment in a body that has had more than its share of partisan divisions. Connecticut Democrats, however, could object since it would leave the state’s Republican governor in a position to name Lieberman’s replacement, who in all likelihood would be a Republican.

“But that’s not as if it would change the balance of power in the Senate,” Collins said. “I think that Senator Lieberman’s appointment would be very well-received by members on both sides of the aisle. Joe is respected by Republicans and Democrats alike, and he works very closely with members of both parties. He, in many ways, is the ideal choice because he does have such in-depth knowledge of the department, and he’s a strong leader.”

Collins’ remarks came hours after her appearance Monday on the “Today” show. In an interview with NBC show co-host Katie Couric, Collins discussed the withdrawal of Bernard Kerik, the 49-year-old former New York City police commissioner, from consideration as a nominee for the security post. Kerik said he withdrew his name from consideration after a review of his financial records led him to question whether he had included the proper taxes on wages paid to an immigrant housekeeper. The employee’s legal status as a documented alien also may have been questionable.

Later, other character issues were raised about Kerik, including one allegation that he had carried on two extramarital affairs simultaneously. His critics also have pointed to a windfall of more than $6 million Kerik gained from exercising stock options in a stun gun company. The firm held contracts with the federal department he would oversee, if confirmed. And a Newsweek report claimed Kerik was the target of an arrest warrant in a civil dispute over unpaid condo fees in New Jersey. Kerik claimed no warrant was ever issued and that the fees were paid.

Collins disputed charges by Democrats Monday that the White House investigation process was flawed for not revealing the potentially damaging information about Kerik before his name was released to the public. She blamed Kerik for not providing detailed answers to the questions that were posed to him.

“What seems apparent to me is that the answers weren’t as full as they should have been,” she said. “The other issues that have arisen also raise questions about whether he was as forthcoming as he should have been. It is naive to think issues like that are not going to surface in a nomination hearing. So I’m surprised that he did not bring them forth himself.”