Leahy Buckles, Will Push Back Holder Hearings

The Senate Judiciary Committee will delay confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Eric Holder after all -- accommodating Republican concerns that the appointment was being rushed and more vetting of Holder's resume was needed.

In an announcement from his Senate office on Monday afternoon, committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said the hearings would be moved back from January 9 to January 15, giving Republicans more than "30 days from today" to consider Holder's qualifications.

"...[T]o accommodate the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, at their request we are delaying the hearing, again, until January 15," read Leahy's statement. "The Assistant Republican Leader said last year that 'attorney general nominees have been confirmed, on average, in approximately three weeks.' Nonetheless, in order to accommodate the Republicans members, I am rescheduling the hearing on Mr. Holder for twice that long, until more than six weeks after his official designation. It is disappointing to me that they are insisting that we delay at a time when the nation needs its top law enforcement officer and national security team in place and working."

Leahy's move is, at the very least, a small tactical victory for Republicans in the Senate. GOP members of the Judiciary Committee protested on the floor that Holder's work in the Clinton White House -- specifically his role in the pardoning of fugitive financier Marc Rich -- required more examination. Their objections were believed to be directed by Karl Rove, who was reportedly organizing the Republican caucus on the issue.

Leahy initially was dismissive of these concerns and seemed committed to confirming Holder on the 9th. That date, he noted, would have given committee members more time to consider the nomination than was granted for past Attorney Generals, including Alberto Gonzales and Janet Reno.

By moving the hearings back to the 15th, Leahy is taking one Republican argument off the table -- the idea that this nomination was somehow being considered in haste. Moreover, if all goes to plan, Holder will be confirmed by the time Obama takes office. But the Vermont Democrat is also signaling that GOP protests, even those driven by the most hyper of partisans (see: Rove), will be considered. He is also offering Republican critics of Holder more time to build their case against the nominee.

Comments

[IsidoroRDL]

As to the confirmation hearing on Eric Holder is Michael Isikoff's cover story in Newsweek, "The Fed Who Blew the Whistle," and the general issue of pardons, amnesties and similar measures for violation of Congressional mandates. The evidence confirms that Eric Holder’s past policies were the base on which former White House Counsel, and then Attorney General Gonzales used to direct DOJ, i.e. the pardon of Marc Rich and other actions to usurp accountability was not an anomaly, but a pattern and practice.

I have experience of litigating against the polices of Eric Holder at DOJ during the ‘90, and later when he was a typical Beltway attorney/lobbyist. Thus I oppose his confirmation, see http://capwiz.com/congressorg/sbx/f/?aid=12313551&r=1.

In summary, the Senate cannot confirm him because evidence confirm that as a Beltway attorney/lobbyist he has been the linchpin in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct the rights of a father and retaliate against an attorney for litigating to enforce federal statutory rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242, 1202, and 1513.

Thus, as a US. citizen and Nam Vet who took the oath 44 years ago to defend and protect the Constitution from, "all enemies, foreign and domestic," irrespective of being a Republican, Democrat, or Independent each Senator must act now to restore the Rule of Law and assure compliance by DOJ with the mandate of separation of power and checks and balances. Isidoro Rodriguez, Esq., [e-mail]

[StillAmused]

Are the Republicans going to call criminal-at-large Gonzo as THEIR example of a model AG?

Another dump truck full of GOP hypocrisy backs up to the Senate and unloads.

[schatsie]

Every day of delay is another day for the Rethugs to do their dirty work... The FBI is still going after Tamm for outing the WireTap Scandal and just a couple of weeks ago interviewed a judge about him..... They willl never never never give up and that is why they MUST GO ASAP.

[veracity]

Well, I guess Senator Leahy learned the lessons from those anthrax letters!

umm, really, Why do Repubs get to shout "OBSTRUCTION!" at the top of their lungs ___from the front pages___ of every newspaper in America, while this somnolent Democrat bunch can't even find the cajones to haul Secretary Paulson before Congress to explain just what he is doing (and more importantly, who he is giving the money to) of those $700-billion bailout dollars?

oops! I guess I just answered my own question - the Democrats are owned by the same corporate lobbyists who run the GOP, and neither Leahy, Dodd, Reid, Pelosi, nor any of the other Democrat "leaders" DARE PUSH BACK against the anointed minions (repub. senators) of their Financial-class masters.

But just for a moment, wouldn't it be FUN, if Leahy, Dodd, or Reid said "OK- you wanna play HARDBALL? This committe/senate AIN'T GOING TO VOTE on ANYTHING _you_ want, until you play ball with us!"

duh

[nualak]

I can't believe the Republicans are still calling the shots. Why are we not investigating the criminal's in the White House. Are the Democrats still a bunch of "wimps" and are we just going to keep ignoring the illegal invasion of Iraq. As Jonathan Turley, a Constitutional lawyer said, it is just as immoral to willfully ignore the crimes committed by a government as it for them to commit the crimes. We, as a Democratic Party have the moral responsibility to hold this government to responsible for their crimes against humanity.

[Poststep]

Republicans still think it wise to follow Karl Rove, Mr. "permanent Republican majority"?

[cobraxus]

this is what we the people have to look forward to and all that the republicans have to offer.obstructionist idealogues bragging to the right-wing media how they blocked this or killed that while our once great nation crumbles all around us.

[Elderlady]

Good Grief - how much of a "Majority" does the "Majority Party" have to have --- to get some backbone?

[OneLessReason]

I thought the Democrats were in charge? It looks like a one party system operating under two names everyday!!!

[deke4]

After the choices made by Republicans for Attorney General, I am happy to note that give them all the time they want. Obama can appoint who he wants in the interim to do the duties of the Attorney General. By now it is obvious to most sane Americans that a Democrat would do a better job than most Republicans. There are some exceptions I would make, like Republicans Richardson and Ruckleshaus during the Nixon administration who chose to resign rather than be the implements used to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. And remember who carried out that dastardly deed. It was an easy vote not to vote that toady who did the firing to a seat on the Supreme Court.

[Slagfish]

When will we ever see some evidence that the Dems are in charge?

[salmo]

So, Rove organizes the Republicans to choose the prosecutor who will decide whether or not to prosecute him. How is it possible that Democrats go along with this?

[BARRISTER]

I dont get it. First the Democrats were in the Minority and were COMPLETELY ignored by the Republicans who went about doing as they pleased without even consulting Democrats; then in 2006 the Democrats won a Majority in the Senate but were handcuffed by the Republicans with threats of filibusters. ( Note that when in the Minority, the Democrats did not use the filibuster threats to stop Alito and Roberts, which they should have done.). Now, with a vast Majority in the Senate come January 21st. 2009, the weak-assed Democrats, for whom I have always voted, are buckling at the knees at the will of the rejected Republicans. If the Democrats cannot use the Majority given by the People to do the People's business, as defined by the People and NOT the Republicans and talking heads, I promse that come the next election we will send home Democrats.

Peace!!

[Transcendentobserver]

BARRISTER; Simple arithmetic with a modicum of historical research will answer the questions you raise and confirmation protocol of committee hearings based upon objective conclusions from that research.. The GOP threat in the Alioto & Roberts confirmation debate holdup was threat of the "nuclear option" which would have overturned centuries old rules by majority vote from the GOP senatorial majority (effective even today because of the 3 "Dog Demos and 1 "Independent".) After the 2008 election, however, that argument is moot because the true voting majority position by the Dems. A certain moral suasion justifies a week delay in the hearings and consistency with ethical positions Dems have historically taken when in the minority. Holder will be confirmed following either hearing date prior to Jan. 20th. The extant reality is that after Jan 1st, all of the clubs the GOP formerly possess will pass to the Dems in spades. Chill out folks!

[BillMelater]

Push it out until the 21st. Let Rove and company get no more Holder media cycles before Bush is gone.

[earlyearlyearly]

Why not postpone it til the 19th? That way Rove and his media cronies can saturate the airwaves with Marc Rich and know one will even notice W. pardoning his gang of thieves and liars.

[Sunshine11]

This decision is a wise one on the part of Senator Leahy. And it is in line with Persident-elect Obama's pragmatic way . This kind of pettiness places the Republican party in a very negative light; however, we can make it work for us. If Mr. Holder's credentials hold up to scrutiny, then so much the better. I'm all for making sure that the people who now come into office are the absolute best this country has to offer.
The Republicans have sunk from Lincoln's ideals to a party of people who have nearly destroyed our country. What they are presnetly doing is digging a deeper hole for themselves. What a pity!