Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Obama’s top attorney general pick faces quizzing on Marc Rich
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | No comments posted.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The first black man elected U.S. president is poised to name Washington lawyer Eric Holder as the nation’s first black attorney general — a historic appointment but one with some potential political problems over a 2001 pardon.
Holder, 57, met President-elect Barack Obama only four years ago, but the affable Bronx-born son of a Barbados immigrant quickly won a seat in the Democrat’s inner circle. If he becomes the next chief U.S. law enforcement officer, Holder will try to win back the public’s confidence in the Justice Department — an agency whose fiercely independent image was tarnished by GOP political meddling during the Bush administration.
Holder’s nomination is expected to be formally announced as soon as this week. He did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday, even though an Obama official and two Democrats in touch with his transition team confirmed that he is the top choice for attorney general.
Holder’s independence rarely has been questioned. But one of his final acts as President Bill Clinton’s deputy attorney general in 2001 could come back to haunt him as he seeks Senate confirmation for the Justice Department’s top job.
Holder, 57, met President-elect Barack Obama only four years ago, but the affable Bronx-born son of a Barbados immigrant quickly won a seat in the Democrat’s inner circle. If he becomes the next chief U.S. law enforcement officer, Holder will try to win back the public’s confidence in the Justice Department — an agency whose fiercely independent image was tarnished by GOP political meddling during the Bush administration.
Holder’s nomination is expected to be formally announced as soon as this week. He did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday, even though an Obama official and two Democrats in touch with his transition team confirmed that he is the top choice for attorney general.
Holder’s independence rarely has been questioned. But one of his final acts as President Bill Clinton’s deputy attorney general in 2001 could come back to haunt him as he seeks Senate confirmation for the Justice Department’s top job.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines