Yates has complained to colleagues that he was harangued and shouted down by MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee last week and that no-one is focussing on the facts - in particular, that his decision not to re-open the phone hacking investigation was backed by the Crown Prosecution Service and leadingcounsel.
Charles Schumer, D-New York, the leading proponent of appointing a special counsel in the matter, failed in an attempt Thursday to win Senate backing of a resolution endorsing the idea when the measure was ruled out of order and no vote was taken.