Judiciary Committee Republicans Hold Over Attorney
General Nomination
Committee Will Vote Jan. 28 On Holder Nomination
WASHINGTON (Wednesday,
Jan. 21, 2009) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.) expressed disappointment Wednesday when Committee Republicans
requested a one week delay in the consideration of the nomination of
Eric H. Holder Jr. to be the next Attorney General of the United States.
Holder’s designation was announced on December 1, 2008, more than seven
weeks ago. The Committee held two days of hearings on the historic
nomination last week, and over the weekend, Holder responded to dozens
of questions submitted for the record.
“The
request has been made by the Republicans to hold the nomination over for
one week,” said Leahy at Wednesday’s meeting. “I am extremely
disappointed, but they have that right, and this historic – historic –
nomination is held over.”
Holder’s
nomination has received broad, bipartisan support. More than 130
law enforcement organizations, civil rights advocates, former Republican
administration officials, and crime victims’ advocates have endorsed the
nomination. Leahy has scheduled a
business meeting for Jan. 28
to again consider the nomination. Leahy’s prepared opening remarks
for Wednesday’s hearing follow.
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
On The Consideration
of Eric H. Holder Jr. To Be Attorney General of the United States
Executive Business
Meeting
January 21, 2009
As Prepared
Yesterday we stood witness to history as Barack Obama became our
Nation’s 44th President. The last several days have
been a time of reflection and celebration for all Americans, concluding
with the peaceful transfer of power that Senator Feinstein noted is a
manifestation of our democracy’s enduring strength. Those of us
serving on this Committee are among the few accorded the privilege of
serving as elected representatives of the people of our states and the
Nation. The people are united. We should follow their lead
and redouble our efforts to work together and with the new
administration to tackle our problems with a shared sense of resolve.
Today our work to help remake America begins. As
our President reminded us yesterday: “[T]he challenges we face are real,
they are serious and they are many.” This Committee can help do
its part by clearing the way for key members of the national security
team to be confirmed by the Senate without delay. The need for
leadership at the Department of Justice has never been greater.
President Obama’s
historic pick of Eric H. Holder Jr. to be the Attorney General has met
every fair confirmation standard. In connection with his
confirmation hearing, this Committee has received endorsements from more
than 130 law enforcement and criminal justice organizations,
civil rights organizations, victims’ advocates, legal practitioners, bar
associations, and current and former public officials, including many
who served as high-ranking officials in the Reagan and two Bush
Administrations.
When Mr. Holder’s hearing began last Thursday in the
Senate Caucus Room, Senator John Warner once again showed the
bipartisanship leadership that made him a great senator for the past 30
years. He instructed that the problems facing the Department of Justice
and the country are so important that we must put aside partisanship and
work together. He presented and endorsed Eric H. Holder Jr. to be
Attorney General and described his outstanding qualifications,
integrity, and independence.
The Committee’s two days of hearings on Mr. Holder’s
nomination ended with a panel of witnesses drawn from the public.
These witnesses included Judge Louis Freeh, the former Director of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation; Fran Townsend, until last year Homeland
Security and Counterterrorism Adviser to President George W. Bush; Chuck
Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police; and
John Payton, Director-Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense
Fund. All strongly urged the Committee and the Senate to move
quickly to confirm Mr. Holder’s nomination.
Over the course of many hours, Mr. Holder answered
every question from every Member of this Committee. All Senators
were accorded such time as they needed in three extended rounds of
questioning to ask whatever they chose. In the time since the hearing,
scores of pages of extensive written questions have been sent to Mr.
Holder on behalf of Members. One Republican Senator propounded 24
pages of written questions. Mr. Holder responded to those written
questions over the inaugural weekend. I am confident he will
likewise respond to questions not forwarded to him until today.
Mr. Holder has
demonstrated that he is part of change we need to restore the rule of
law, “to reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”
Having had the opportunity for two months to review his record
and having heard his testimony, it is time for this Committee to
consider this important nomination. I am more convinced than ever that
Eric Holder is a person who will reinvigorate the Department of Justice
and serve ably as a key member of the President’s national security
team. He will pursue the Justice Department’s vital missions with
skill, integrity, independence and a commitment to the rule of law.
I conclude these brief remarks by thanking our Ranking Republican
Member, the senior Senator from Pennsylvania, for consulting with me
about proceeding today to consider the President's nomination of Eric H.
Holder Jr. to be Attorney General of the United States. I
appreciate the hard work and cooperation of all Members of the Committee
on this important nomination and their willingness to proceed to its
consideration today. Any Senator can delay it, but I hope that no
one will. The problems and threats confronting the country are too
serious to delay. Acting today to send this nomination to the
Senate will be a small but important step in answering the Nation’s call
for bipartisanship.
# # # # #
January 21, 2009
An Executive Business Meeting has been scheduled by the Committee
on the Judiciary for Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., in room
216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.
By order of the Chairman
AGENDA
Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate Hart Office Building Room 216
January 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. to be Attorney General of the United
States
# # # # #
