Obama nominates Lynch to succeed Holder

November 10, 2014

By Phil Heidenreich

Washington, D.C.:

AG nominee Loretta Lynch

President Obama announced the nomination of Loretta Lynch as the next U.S. Attorney General. Lynch currently serves as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, an office she also held from 1990-2001. She is expected to face a thorough vetting from the U.S. Senate, where many members believe the confirmation process should be placed on hold until the newly elected Congress takes office in January.

Notably in opposition to Lynch's confirmation in the lame-duck session of Congress were Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Lee and Cruz released a statement, explaining, "President Obama’s Attorney General nominee deserves fair and full consideration of the United States Senate, which is precisely why she should not be confirmed in the lame duck session of Congress by senators who just lost their seats and are no longer accountable to the voters." One of the key policy aspects making the lawmakers hesitant in their support of Lynch was waiting to hear her views on President Obama's expected immigration amnesty plans. Other senators pushing for the delay in her confirmation include Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and John Thune (R-SD) and Senator-elect Shelley Capito (R-WV).

United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced his plans for resignation from President Barack Obama's cabinet on September 25, 2014. The fourth longest tenured attorney general in U.S. history and first African American to hold the post, Holder was a key part of many of the administration's initiatives, as well as being close to many of the controversies. If and when Lynch is confirmed by the United States Senate, Holder will officially resign his post.

See also

• Loretta Lynch
• Eric Holder
• Barack Obama
• U.S. Department of Justice
• Appointment confirmation process