Eric Holder
Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. (born January 21, 1951) is an American lawyer and the current United States Attorney General. He is the first African-American to hold this position. Previously he has been a judge in Washington, D.C., United States Attorney, and Deputy Attorney General. He is serving under President Barack Obama.
Early Life and Education
Career
Deputy Attorney General
Attorney General
On December 1, 2008, President Barack Obama announced that he would appoint Holder as Attorney General. In light of persistent accusations of a politicized Justice Department under George W. Bush and his former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, reforms of the Justice Department were considered a high priority by the incoming Democratic administration. The nomination of the first African-American Attorney General created some enthusiasm, but Holder's appointment was not uncontroversial. Before his confirmation, Republicans questioned his behavior as Bill Clinton's Deputy Attorney General in pushing for the pardoning of Marc Rich, a fugitive from justice on the FBI's most wanted list, and the commutation of sentences for several Puerto Rican terrorists.[1] However, he was confirmed by a 75-21 vote in the Senate on February 2, 2009.
He has ordered a review of pending state secrets privilege applications by Federal prosecutors, although asked that it be applied in a case pending when he took office, Mohamed et al. v. Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc.
- ↑ Liz Halloran (January 14, 2009). Battle Brewing Over Holder's Clinton-Era Decisions, National Public Radio (NPR). Retrieve August 12, 2009.