The White House confirmed Friday that President Obama will nominate U.S. attorney Loretta Lynch to replace Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
The president will make the announcement Saturday in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, and will be joined by Mr. Holder and Ms. Lynch. If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first black female attorney general in history.
“Ms. Lynch is a strong, independent prosecutor who has twice led one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the country,” the White House said. “She will succeed Eric Holder, whose tenure has been marked by historic gains in the areas of criminal justice reform and civil rights enforcement.”
The White House confirmed that, at the end of the two-hour meeting, each of the congressional leaders left with a six-pack of White House beer.
Just hours earlier, officials denied reports of the pending nomination, saying Mr. Obama hadn’t made a decision.
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley released a statement Friday night in response to the White House’s decision.
“I congratulate Ms. Lynch on her nomination. Being selected to serve as our nation’s top law enforcement officer is both a tremendous honor and responsibility,” the Iowa Republican said. “As we move forward with the confirmation process, I have every confidence that Ms. Lynch will receive a very fair, but thorough, vetting by the Judiciary Committee. U.S. Attorneys are rarely elevated directly to this position, so I look forward to learning more about her, how she will interact with Congress, and how she proposes to lead the department. I’m hopeful that her tenure, if confirmed, will restore confidence in the Attorney General as a politically independent voice for the American people.”
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• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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