September 29, 2014
Top News Today
On Friday, President Obama announced the resignation of the man he elevated to be the nation’s first black chief law enforcement officer. Cabinet members frequently come and go, but anyone watching the resignation could tell that this one was personal. Mr. Obama and Mr. Holder and their families are very close. The bittersweet emotions of both the president and his attorney general during the announcement were not only seen but felt.
“In the months ahead I will leave the Department of Justice,” Holder said, while thanking President Barack Obama for the “greatest honor of my professional life.” Though he is stepping down, Holder said that “he will never leave the work.”
“I will continue to serve and try to find ways to make our nation even more true to its founding ideals.”
President Obama stood next to Holder in the White House State Dining Room praising his friend as a man who made civil rights and equal rights central components to his tenure at Justice. Mr. Obama noted that the department prosecuted hundreds of terror cases, “rooted out corruption and fought violent crime,” tackled financial fraud and “attacks on the Voting Rights Act.”
“Eric has done a superb job,” Mr. Obama said. “I just want to say thank you.”
With 6 years on the job, why is Holder resigning now? No one truly knows for sure, although it is very common for a cabinet member to leave prior to the very end of a presidency.
Top News Today
One educated guess is that President Obama believes Democrats may lose control of the U.S. Senate this November, which could set up a testy confirmation hearing for any new cabinet choice in front of a GOP led senate. With Holder resigning now, Mr. Obama may be able to swiftly confirm his new choice for Attorney General while Democrats still hold control of the confirmation hearings. Another theory is that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg may soon be stepping down, which could allow Mr. Obama to appoint Holder as her replacement on the nations highest court. Of course, anything is possible.
Why do you believe Eric Holder is resigning now?
With 6 years on the job, why is Holder resigning now? No one truly knows for sure, although it is very common for a cabinet member to leave prior to the very end of a presidency. […]
You're right DJ. It is common.
And one can only imagine the toll it's taken on his life the past 6 yrs (both physically and mentally) being the first Black-American Attorney General of the United States in this country's history.