AP Sources: Dems give Judiciary subcommittee chair

Senate Democrats are giving Sen. Arlen Specter a plum subcommittee chairmanship on the Judiciary Committee.

A congressional official told The Associated Press on Thursday that Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois has volunteered to give up his chairmanship of the crime subcommittee. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The panel is the Judiciary Committee's busiest subcommittee, responsible for legislation on drug sentencing.

The move is designed to placate Republican-turned-Democrat Specter after Democrats failed to honor his 28 years of seniority on committees. Democrats hope to keep Specter's Pennsylvania Senate seat in next year's elections.