Backstage Drama Abounds at Alito Hearings
Jan 11 2006
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON
What passed for on-camera drama Wednesday came during a prickly yes-no exchange over whether Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., had received a letter from Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., asking that the committee seek certain papers related to Concerned Alumni of Princeton.
Kennedy said he sent it.
Specter said he didn't receive it.
Kennedy said he must have received it.
"I take umbrage at your telling me what I received," Specter said. "I don't mind your telling me what you mailed. But there's a big difference between what's mailed and what's received. And you know that."
Kennedy demanded the committee go into closed session to vote on subpoenaing the documents from the Library of Congress.
"And if I'm going to be denied that," Kennedy thundered, "I'd want to give notice to the chair that you're going to hear it again and again and again and we're going to have votes of this committee again and again and again until we have a resolution."
"Well, Senator Kennedy, I'm not concerned about your threats," interrupted Specter. "I'm not going to have you run this committee and decide when we're going to go into executive session."
With that, he turned his head away, banged the gavel and opened another round of questions.
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