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Holder's nomination clears Senate Judiciary Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved the nomination of Eric Holder, who, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the nation's first black attorney general.
The nomination was approved on a 17-2 vote.
Dissenting votes came from Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Cornyn took issue with some of Holder's actions during the Clinton administration, when Holder was deputy attorney general, particularly Holder's 2001 recommendation that Clinton pardon financier Marc Rich, a high-dollar Democratic donor, and his 1999 recommendation to shorten prison sentences for 14 Puerto Rican nationalists imprisoned on sedition and weapons charges.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and ranking member Arlen Specter, R-Pa., praised Holder, even though Specter delayed the vote for a week while he looked into some questions involving the nominee.
Specter said that he was satisfied that Holder would be a good attorney general. He said that former FBI chief Louis Freeh's backing of Holder was significant for him. A full Senate vote is expected later this week.
COMMENTS
- This guy showed a total lack of Judgement while employed by Clinton and now all of a sudden he got religion... Janet Reno looks like a better pick dan ketter Posted January 29, 2009 12:37 PM
- Eric Holder will be a great Attorney General. However, he must rid the DOJ of politics, and those staff that allowed it to happen in the Bush Administration. He must also get the DOJ/OIG out of the business of controlling the management agenda of the DOJ and keep them out of politics. OIG's Glenn Fine should be removed or leave for his political dealings in the last Administration. He was aware of significant problems, and did nothing but report on them? He could have ended the illegal problems by getting the investigations done quicker, and standing up to the Bush Administration, which he did not do until the end of the Administration. Staff at the AG and DAG level that have been in the DOJ for 30 years or more must be removed, or moved to positions where they have no influence. Mr. Holder, be careful of career wolves in sheeps clothing....... frank Posted January 29, 2009 9:11 AM
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