From The Hill
By Alexander Bolton
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to advance the nomination of Eric Holder to become President Obama’s attorney general.
Six Republicans voted with Democrats in favor of Holder, assuring him of confirmation by the full Senate. Holder would become the first African-American to serve as attorney general.
Holder made headlines and won applause from Democrats when he declared the practice of waterboarding akin to torture and illegal. The stance drew Republican opposition, however, notably from National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas).
Cornyn and Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.) were the only two Republicans to vote against Holder.
Holder also became embroiled in controversy because of his role in former President Clinton’s decision to pardon fugitive financier Marc Rich and members of a militant Puerto Rican separatist group. The nominee was deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration at the time.
Holder said he regretted his role in approving the Rich pardon but defended the decision on the Puerto Rican nationalists, which he called “reasonable” despite strong GOP criticism highlighting their links to domestic terrorist attacks in the '70s.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), the second-ranking Republican on Judiciary and a former chairman of the panel, was the first Republican to voice support for Holder, giving him a major boost.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) was the next Republican on Judiciary to line up behind Holder, telling reporters on the day of Holder’s confirmation hearing that he would support the nominee.
Graham said he appreciated Holder’s recognition that the nation is at war and that suspected terrorists should be treated as enemy combatants.
On Tuesday, Holder received the support of Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the ranking Republican on Judiciary, who clashed with Holder at his confirmation hearing. Specter questioned Holder’s ability to maintain his independence in the Obama administration.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who had expressed serious reservations about Holder before his hearing, also voted for Holder.
Holder made headlines and won applause from Democrats when he declared the practice of waterboarding akin to torture and illegal. The stance drew Republican opposition, however, notably from National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas).
Cornyn and Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.) were the only two Republicans to vote against Holder.
Holder also became embroiled in controversy because of his role in former President Clinton’s decision to pardon fugitive financier Marc Rich and members of a militant Puerto Rican separatist group. The nominee was deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration at the time.
Holder said he regretted his role in approving the Rich pardon but defended the decision on the Puerto Rican nationalists, which he called “reasonable” despite strong GOP criticism highlighting their links to domestic terrorist attacks in the '70s.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), the second-ranking Republican on Judiciary and a former chairman of the panel, was the first Republican to voice support for Holder, giving him a major boost.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) was the next Republican on Judiciary to line up behind Holder, telling reporters on the day of Holder’s confirmation hearing that he would support the nominee.
Graham said he appreciated Holder’s recognition that the nation is at war and that suspected terrorists should be treated as enemy combatants.
On Tuesday, Holder received the support of Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the ranking Republican on Judiciary, who clashed with Holder at his confirmation hearing. Specter questioned Holder’s ability to maintain his independence in the Obama administration.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who had expressed serious reservations about Holder before his hearing, also voted for Holder.
“I think he’s indicated that he understands that error,” Sessions said of the Rich pardon.
Cornyn, one of the few Republicans to vote against Holder, said he was “left with doubts about his judgment and independence,” citing the Rich pardon. Cornyn said he suspected Holder approved the pardon to give Clinton “the answer he wanted.”
Cornyn also questioned Holder’s ability to lead the Justice Department while national security officials are pursuing international terrorists. Bush administration officials argued that waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques were necessary to obtain intelligence.
Leahy said Holder could receive a vote before the full Senate as early as Thursday.
graham's head, woman's body. ha!
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