Eric Holder’s confirmation as Attorney General this week seems assured by the Senate Judiciary Committee 17-2 vote in his favor yesterday, reports the New York Times. Two Republicans, John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, voted no.
Some Republicans had hoped to make the Holder nomination a demonstration of party strength against a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress. But Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking Republican, said on Tuesday he would support the nomination. Cornyn said he based his opposition on what he said was Holder's unwillingness to demonstrate a full commitment to fighting terrorism and his role in facilitating a pardon eight years ago of Marc Rich, a financier who had fled the U.S. to avoid prosecution. Holder said he had made a mistake recommending the Rich pardon.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29holder.html?_r=1