Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Holder for AG

By Jeralyn, Section Obama Administration
Posted on Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 09:34:59 PM EST
Tags: Eric Holder, Department of Justice (all tags)

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No surprise here. Attorney General nominee Eric Holder passed the Senate Judicary Committee by a vote of 17 to 2 with only Republican Senators John Cornyn and Tom Coburn voting no.

A vote by the full Senate should take place in a few days. Mukasey's term expired on Jan. 20 Bush Deputy AG Mark Filip is <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/21/bush-holdover-takes-the-reigns-awaiting-holder-confirmation/, serving as Acting Attorney General until Holder is confirmed.

Next up after Holder's confirmation: The naming of 93 U.S. Attorneys. Will there be any holdovers? Patrick Fitzgerald is expected to stay as Obama previously said he would keep him. The rest will primarily be chosen through recommendations by the Senators in each district.

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Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Holder for AG | 4 comments (4 topical)

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Repub senator says Holder assured him no charges (none / 0) (#1)
by jawbone on Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 10:21:45 PM EST

will be brought against CIA employees or Bush poitical appointees over torture issues.

This from WashTimes' Ben Conery and Eli Lake, as told to him by Sen. Chris Bond (R-MO), so consider the sources. Could be wishful thinking, wishful misinterpretation of comments..?

Via Shakespeare's Sister, The Heretik.

BTW, the tone of the article has changed since it first appeared, so I'm going with wishful misinterpretation. Attempt to box Holder in? Muddy waters? Hhhmmm. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men Repubs.... The Shadow knows....

Eric H. Holder Jr.'s confirmation as attorney general is speeding toward approval thanks in part to his private assurances to a key Republican senator that he does not intend to prosecute intelligence agency interrogators for their actions during the prior administration.
The assurances, reported by Sen. Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Republican, to The Washington Times on Wednesday, went beyond Mr. Holder's earlier public testimony in which he said he could not prejudge his actions regarding cases he had not seen.
"I believe [Mr. Holder] will look forward to keep the nation safe and not look backwards to prosecute intelligence operators who were fighting terror and kept our country safe since 9/11," Mr. Bond said in the interview.
However, an aide to Mr. Holder who requested anonymity because the nominee has not been confirmed, disputed this version of events. "Eric Holder has not made any commitments about who would or would not be prosecuted," the aide said. "He explained his position to Senator Bond as he did in the public hearing and in his responses to written questions."
Still, Mr. Holder's private comments to Mr. Bond were important to moving his nomination forward. Snip

The followup denial (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Steve M on Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 10:35:40 PM EST

is here.

I agree with the Democratic Senators who suggested that such an exchange is highly improbable.

"It would be completely wrong if a senator said, 'I'll vote for you if you promise to withhold prosecution of a crime'," Leahy told me. "No senator would make a request like that. It'd be improper."
"Maybe Governor [Rod] Blagojevich [D-IL]" would have sought such an assurance, Leahy quipped.

: I love Leahy's feisty streak (none / 0) (#3)
by andgarden on Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 10:46:30 PM EST

He actually strikes me as a mean old SOB.

Clarify (none / 0) (#4)
by mmc9431 on Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 02:01:40 AM EST

I hope Leahy is right. I would like the issue cleared up at the full Senate vote. I can't imagine an AG agreeing to not uphold his duty or oath of office. But then I can't believe a lot of things that have been done in Washington the last eight years.