Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Republicans Picking a Fight Over Holder

Dems need one GOP vote to move AG pick out of committee

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Jan 9, 2009 10:45 AM CST

(Newser) – Senate Republicans seem to have settled on attorney-general-designate Eric Holder as their main target for a tough confirmation hearing. Thanks to his liberal leanings and his role in the Clinton administration—especially the controversial 11th-hour Marc Rich pardon—Holder will get a grilling in the Judiciary Committee. Ranking Republican Arlen Specter tells the AP: “This guy has serious questions to answer. I'm not flexing political muscles.”

Politico notes that because Joe Biden’s spot on Judiciary is empty, a party-line vote would produce a nine-nine tie. Committee chairman Pat Leahy is confident that the GOP is all talk, and serious Republicans will come around. Says Leahy, “It could be a nine-nine tie, but I’ve had (Republican) senators tell me privately that of course they’re going to vote for Eric Holder.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Marc Rich is shown in this Nov. 27, 2000, file photo in Switzerland. Holder's role in Rich's pardon is expected to attract scrutiny. (AP Photo/Urs Flueeler, file)

Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, left, meets with the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in Washington, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, right, walks with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., left, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Eric Holder is going to be confirmed. There’s no doubt in my mind. With all the problems we’ve had at the Justice Department, I hope nobody would try to slow it down. They can, but it seems senseless. He’ll do all right. - Pat Leahy

Others will come before the Judiciary Committee and this is the first statement. If we allow ourselves to get rolled here, we're not doing our jobs. - Senate Republican aide

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

GOP Questions Put Brakes on Holder Vote

Committee will wait week on AG nominee, infuriating chair Leahy

(NEWSER) - The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed today’s scheduled vote on Eric Holder’s confirmation by another week, CNN reports. Republican members engineered the move, saying they have questions about the attorney-general nominee’s stance on interrogation techniques. Chairman Patrick Leahy, who said he was “extremely disappointed,” banged down his gavel before leaving the hearing room this afternoon. More»

GOPers Smell Impeachment in Sestak Job Offer

Repeated calls to Holder to appoint special prosecutor

(NEWSER) - Republicans are calling for the attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Joe Sestak's claims that someone in the Obama administration offered him a high-ranking job to drop out of the Pennsylvania primary race against Arlen Specter. And they've already used the “I” word. “It's very clear that allegation is one that everyone from Arlen Specter to Dick Morris has said is in fact a crime, and could be impeachable,” Rep. Darrel Issa tells Fox News . More»

Senate Committee OKs Holder for Attorney General

Cornyn, Coburn dissent in 17-2 vote; full body could confirm tomorrow

(AP) - Senate Republicans did little to stop the progress of Barack Obama's choice for attorney general, with the Judiciary Committee voting 17-2 today to endorse Eric Holder; John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Republicans both, were the lone dissenters. The Senate could vote as early as tomorrow to confirm Holder as the first African American to lead the Justice Department. More»

Holder: Waterboarding Is Torture

But supports FISA, Patriot Act

(NEWSER) - Eric Holder minced no words when asked about waterboarding in his confirmation hearing today. “Waterboarding is torture,” the AG-designate said, a declaration neither Michael Mukasey nor Alberto Gonzales was willing to make. He said that, even in emergencies, the president couldn’t override the constitution. Republicans also leapt to question Holder about the Marc Rich pardon, which he readily admitted to regrets about. More»

Mukasey Calls Waterboarding 'Repugnant,' Dodges Legality

AG nominee's 'massive hedge' worries critics

(NEWSER) - Attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey frustrated senators on both sides of the aisle by again refusing to specify whether he considers waterboarding a form of torture, calling it only "repugnant," CNN reports. "Hypotheticals are different from real life," Mukasey wrote to confirmation committee members yesterday, adding that he wasn't privy to what techniques investigators are allowed to use. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Republicans Picking a Fight Over Holder