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Who Will Replace Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder?

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Who Will Replace Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder?
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By Pema Levy
Filed Under: U.S., President Barack Obama,
Eric Holder
The minute news broke Thursday that
Attorney General Eric Holder will soon resign
, speculation began about who will replace
him. The administrations top legal official is
often the most politicized of all cabinet
positions -- and Holder has been a favorite
target of conservatives since he assumed
the position in 2009.

The timing of Holders announcement, just

six weeks before the midterms, is an
important piece of the replacement puzzle. Its unlikely the White House will expect Senators to return to
Washington from the campaign trail to take a highly politicized vote on a replacement. So will the
administration push for a confirmation in the lame duck session after the new Congress takes over?
Attorney General Eric Holder

Since the midterms will determine which party controls the Senate -- forecasters currently see Republicans
as slightly ahead of the Democrats in the upper chamber -- will President Obama have to pick a nominee
who can get through a Republican-controlled Senate?
The daunting task of confirming a replacement prompted politicos on Twitter to joke that Holder, who has
promised to stay at his post until a replacement is confirmed, may not be going anywhere soon.

If Democrats hold the Senate, or push to confirm a nominee before the new Congress begins in January,
they have enough votes to confirm Holders successor. Thanks to last years filibuster reforms, executive
appointments can be confirmed with a simple majority vote. On MSNBC Thursday, Senate Judiciary
Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said he wants to hold confirmation hearings as soon as
possible.
So who will Obama pick? White House officials say the president has not yet decided on a successor, but
speculation includes (on NPR) the current solicitor general, Donald Verrilli as a top contender. Before
becoming the nations chief advocate in June 2011, Verrilli served as deputy counsel to Obama and at the
Justice Department as an associate deputy attorney general.

Another
Page
1 of 2

top name being floated is Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, D, who is not
for
Sep running
28, 2014 07:53:08PM
MDT

http://www.newsweek.com/who-will-replace-outgoing-attorney-general-eric-holder-273294

Another top name being floated is Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, D, who is not running for
reelection this year. But Patrick has already tamped down speculation, saying Thursday that the position of
attorney general is an enormously important job but its not one for me right now.
According to Politico, two others on the shortlist are California Attorney General Kamala Harris, D, and
Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Obama is scheduled to formally announce Holders resignation at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the White House.
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