Doctors gave U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey a clean bill of health Friday
morning after an apparent fainting spell, according to Gina Talamona,
spokeswoman for the Department of Justice.
Michael Mukasey is helped as he begins to collapse during
his speech Thursday night.
Mukasey, 67, was released from the hospital and returned to
work Friday at the Justice Department.
"All tests at the hospital have come back with good results,
and I feel fine," Mukasey said in a written statement.
The attorney general underwent medical tests at George
Washington Hospital after collapsing Thursday night at the Federalist Society
dinner at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington.
The attorney general was given a CAT-scan on Friday morning
which showed normal results, Talamona said. He was also given a MRI, a stress
test and a stress echocardiogram.
"All of the tests have been reassuring. There is no
indication that he suffered a stroke or any heart-related incident," Talamona
said.
Mukasey had an uneventful night after being admitted to the
hospital, she said, adding that he "looks good. He's very alert.
The doctors are describing him as very fit."
The doctors are describing him as very fit."
President Bush placed a call to Mukasey Friday morning.
"The AG sounded well and is getting excellent care,"
presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Mukasey was giving a spirited defense of the Bush
administration's legal policies when his speech began to slur and he lost track
of his thoughts about 30 minutes into his talk. Seconds later, he became rigid
and then began to slump. 
Watch Mukasey's speech and collapse »
As Mukasey began to collapse, two people grabbed him and
laid him on the stage. On a tape of the speech, a voice be heard saying "Oh, no
oh! Oh my God!"
He was given medical attention on stage by a woman and three
men before he was rushed to the hospital. EMS personnel arrived on the scene
less than 15 minutes after his collapse. Watch update on Mukasey's condition »
Before the EMS arrived, one man is heard asking people to
please stay in their seats. In the background, a voice is heard saying "bring
his feet up." While Mukasey was being attended to, the audience remained seated
and quiet.
Outside the hotel, police cars rushed to the scene. Moments
later, a fire truck arrived and then an ambulance.
White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto told CNN that
President Bush has been informed of the situation and has Mukasey in his
"thoughts and prayers." Watch Jeffrey Toobin's comments on Mukasey »
As he approached the podium and during the bulk of his
appearance, Mukasey showed no signs of ill health.
During his speech, he praised the administration for
"nothing less than a fundamental reorganization of our government" after the
9/11 terrorist attacks and blasted the "relentless critics of the very policies
that have kept us safe."
Early in his speech, Mukasey noted Supreme Court justices
were in attendance, and he praised John Roberts and Samuel Alito as "remarkably
accomplished justices."
His speech was punctuated several times by applause from the
audience.
Mukasey is a retired federal judge appointed to the bench by
President Ronald Reagan.
He was nominated as attorney general by President Bush in
September 2007 and was confirmed by the Senate in November 2007.
As a judge, Mukasey ruled that the U.S. government's
detention of "dirty bomb" suspect Jose Padilla was constitutional, but that he
must be allowed to meet with his attorneys.
During his attorney general confirmation hearings, Mukasey
said he would make legal decisions based "on facts and law, not by interests and
motives."
Mukasey also said he would resign from
office if faced with a presidential order he believed was unconstitutional.
