With all of the recent debate, most readers should know that August 2 is the deadline for action on the debt limit according to the Obama Administration. You may not know that August 2 also represents another deadline for the White House.
This one deals with who will be the Director of the FBI.
Over two months ago, President Obama asked the Congress to extend the term of FBI Director Robert Mueller by two years, as his ten year term is coming to an end on August 2.
At the time, it drew the support of lawmakers in both parties; but now it seems that some Republicans are blocking action on this measure, which could mean that Mueller will move into retirement instead.
"At first it was reportedly Senator Coburn who was holding up consideration of the bill, then Senator DeMint, and now apparently it is an objection by Senator Paul of Kentucky that is preventing the Senate from proceeding," said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who took a series of sharp jabs at Republicans Monday night on the Senate floor.
"This sort of delay is inexplicable and inexcusable," the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee added.
But at this point, Leahy's desire for action by the Congress is at the mercy of the GOP.
Late last week, Paul sent Mueller a series of questions and asked for a meeting with the FBI Director.
Originally, it was thought that the Congress had until September 4 to authorize a special two year term for Mueller, but a spokeswoman for Sen. Leahy told me last night that Mueller's papers were actually signed in early August of 2001 by President George W. Bush.
President Obama wants Mueller to stay on the job for an extra two years, which some Republicans argue is an end run around the law that requires ten year terms for the FBI Director.
That statute was enacted in order to create turnover in the job, as a direct result of the extended tenure of J. Edgar Hoover.
If critics of the White House want to pull out the procedural stops to block Mueller, they may well be able to over the next two weeks, as the Senate must also be prepared to devote time to legislation dealing with the debt limit. The House must also approve the special legislation.
Mueller started his term as FBI Director just before the Nine Eleven attacks.
And he may now only have two weeks left to serve in his post.
