mr. adegbile. this is important to understand this, there's a very clear legal principle that a supervising lawyer has responsible for the actions undertaken by the lawyers that report to him, that is the case in these circumstances as well as the fact that the l.d.f. openly acknowledges this. so what is it that the l.d.f. lawyers then did in the circumstances of this case? well, when they should have been pursuing their historic role in providing truth and justice for american people, they were advancing neither cause. it's important to point out this was never a case of a criminal deserving a legal defense. criminals do deserve appropriate legal counsel in their defense. the fact is, the trial had occurred decades ago, abu jamal had multiple high-cost lawyers volunteering their time, he had plenty of lawyers, he didn't need more lawyers. what mr. adegbile did, he decided to join a political cause. that's what he decided to do. that's what this was all about and in my view, by doing so he demonstr

mr. president. the clerk: department of justice, debo adegbile of new york to be an assistant attorney general. mr. reid: mr. president, i believe there is a cloture motion at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion: we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of debo adegbile of new york to be an assistant attorney general, signed by 17 senators as follows: mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent that the reading of the names be waived. officer sphe without objection. mr. reid: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. all opposed, say nay. the ayes appear to have t the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. reid: i now move to proceed to calendar number 568. mr. president, we have to move to executive session. i'm sorry about that. i ask that that be part of the agreement. the presiding officer: the question is on the