Bush names former Justice Dept. lawyer to head DHS

Bush names former Justice Dept. lawyer to head DHS    President Bush has named federal appeals court judge Michael Chertoff to be the new secretary of Homeland Security, a White House spokeswoman confirmed. She said Bush announced the appointment at a White House ceremony this morning.
   Chertoff headed the Justice Department’s criminal division from 2001 to 2003 and played a key role in developing the nation’s legal response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks before the president named him to an appeals court position in New Jersey, according to the Associated Press, which first reported his appointment.
   Chertoff is Bush second choice for the position. Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his nomination after it was discovered he had illegally hired an undocumented worker as a nanny and had not paid federal taxes for her as required by law. Other allegations of ethical lapses surrounding Kerik subsequently became public.
   Chertoff was a lead prosecutor in the government’s case against terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui and played a large role in crafting the U.S Patriot Act giving law enforcement more powers to investigate possible terrorist connections.
   He also was chief Republican counsel in the Senate for the Whitewater investigation of former President Bill Clinton’s real estate deal in Arkansas.