[Linda Stouffer, Cnn Anchor:] Well, the Justice Department has a new leader today who's every move is likely to be watched very closely for quite some time.
[Jason Carroll, Cnn Anchor:] John Ashcroft was sworn in as attorney general last night, just hours after he was confirmed by a deeply divided Senate. But Democrats mustered enough dissenters to send a powerful message to Ashcroft and President Bush. CNN congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl explains.
[Jonathan Karl, Cnn Correspondent:] Just two hours after being confirmed, John Ashcroft headed to the Supreme Court for a private swearing in by his long-time friend Justice Clarence Thomas. Ashcroft said, in a statement, "Let me send a clear message today I will confront injustice by leading a professional Justice Department that is free from politics."
[Unidentified Male:] The Senate gives its advice and consent to the nomination of John Ashcroft...
[Karl:] President Bush got his man for the Justice Department, but Republicans were outraged at what it took to get him there.
[Sen. Orrin Hatch , Utah:] I resent the calumny that they've heaped on John Ashcroft. I resent the unfair tactics; I resent the distortions of his record. And boy, it's been distorted, and I think we'd all resent it. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
[Karl:] Looking around the Senate floor, Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch added "and there's plenty of sinning around here."
[Unknown:] Mr. Daschle, no...
[Karl:] In the end, 42 Senators, all Democrats, voted against Ashcroft, the second highest number of no votes for a successful Cabinet nominee in American history, and the most in 30 years. Democrats said the stronger-than-expected opposition sends a message to the new president.
[Sen. Charles Schumer , New York:] It's a shot across the bow in terms of the Justice Department and how it conducts itself. It's a shot across the bow in terms of Supreme Court nominations. It's a shot across the bow in terms of the push and pull within the Bush administration to be moderate and bipartisan or to play to the hard right.
[Karl:] The 42 no votes means Democrats may have had the votes to prevent the Ashcroft nomination from coming to a vote, a tactic several Democrats said they may use against future Bush Supreme Court and other nominees. [on camera]: Shortly after the vote, Ashcroft's spokesperson said that early into his tenure as attorney general, Ashcroft will reach out to some of those who vehemently opposed his nomination, especially the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.