President Obama will not nominate a replacement for Attorney General Eric Holder until after the Nov. 4 midterm elections, McClatchy Newspapers reports. White House officials say they do not want the nomination to become an issue in the contentious elections. Senate Democrats, who are fighting to maintain their majority, asked Obama to hold off on the announcement. Holder announced his resignation Sept. 25, but agreed to stay on until his successor is confirmed.
Republicans were quick criticize the decision. “This timing shows, once again, that the President and Democrat Senate leaders are willing to play politics with important policy decisions,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee.