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Senate committee approves AG nominee Holder

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted 17-2 to approve the nomination of Eric Holder to serve as Attorney General. Holder won the approval of all the Democrats on the committee, as well as some of the Republicans, including ranking Republican committee member Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). The two dissenting votes were cast by Republican Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tom Coburn (R-OK). Specter said Tuesday, "I think that Mr. Holder is entitled to the benefit of the doubt in the context of the excellent record that he has and those recommendations weighed against the issues which were of concern to me." Committee chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) responded to Specter's declaration of support, saying, "I am glad that Senator Specter has resolved his concerns and will support Eric Holder's nomination to be the next Attorney General." Holder's confirmation will now to go a vote before the entire Senate. Earlier this month, Holder told the committee in confirmation hearings that he believes waterboarding constitutes torture. Then-President-elect Barack Obama officially announced his nomination of Holder last month. Holder served as Deputy US Attorney General during the Clinton administration. Republicans have criticized Holder for his role in the 2001 pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. If confirmed by the Senate, Holder would be the first African-American to lead the Justice Department.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 28, 2009 (boomark / email).