Last night, I attended the annual dinner of the Federalist Society, where the guest speaker was Attorney General Michael Mukasey. Mr. Mukasey gave a strong speech defending the Bush Administration's success in defending the nation from further terror attacks. He rebuked critics who attacked the administration's programs as violating the rule of law even while the critiques were completed devoid of any legal analysis. Finally, he attacked as irresponsible the calls by some members of Congress for criminal prosecution of DoJ lawyers who had simply given their best advice on what was and was not lawful at a time of national crisis.

As he was winding up, his voice began to break up. Most of us thought he was simply getting choked up at the thought of dedicated people in his department being threatened in this irresponsible way. Then he became unable to speak and was obviously going to fall, but his security agents caught him. A doctor in the house (in an evening gown) administered aid until the paramedics arrived in what seemed like a very long time. They took him out to a hospital. Those of us in the audience thought he had had a stroke or heart attack.

Today, this story by Carrie Johnson and Clarence Williams of the WaPo and this AP story by Matt Apuzzo and Lara Jakes Jordan indicate it is less serious than we thought. He is said to be in good spirits with strong vital signs.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Update: The AG finished his speech by email, quoted after the jump. His prepared remarks are here.