Holder to stay on as AG “for about a year”
posted at 10:01 am on November 20, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
As the New York Post predicted last week, Attorney General Eric Holder will not leave the Obama administration at the start of Barack Obama’s second term — but he won’t be sticking around too much longer than that. The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday and Fox News confirmed last night that Holder will stay “about a year” in order to provide Obama with some continuity for his Cabinet in the transition to his second term. The list has already begun for Holder’s successor, however:
Attorney General Eric Holder will honor President Obama’s request to stay into the second term and but will remain on the job only “for about a year,” Fox News confirmed Monday.
A senior administration official told Fox News that Obama does not want a mass exodus at the start of his second term, especially with his national security team going through major changes. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton already has said she will leave soon.
Who has made the short list to run the Department of Justice so far? With one exception, it’s not a terribly controversial list. Fox’s report puts Deval Patrick’s name most prominently, followed by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal. They also include Janet Napolitano, who has almost zero chance of getting past Republicans in a confirmation fight after her four years at Homeland Security. That might create more controversy than nominating Susan Rice for Secretary of State after her shameful performance in the aftermath of the Benghazi terrorist attack.
Deval Patrick’s name has come up before, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Patrick has won two terms as governor in Massachusetts, and might harbor presidential aspirations in 2016. Getting tied to a Cabinet position will spell the end of his upward ascent in electoral politics. Both Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal would get an easy ride in the Senate, and both come from states with safe Democratic environments — and Democratic governors to appoint their successors.
The safest choice would be Klobuchar, where no strong Republican candidate for Senator is on the horizon, and no self-funders seem interested in trying out for the job. Obama would have the opportunity to appoint another woman to his Cabinet, and Klobuchar would have a low risk for embarrassment to the administration, unlike Blumenthal, whose false claims of combat service would almost certainly get mentioned in a confirmation hearing. If Obama hopes for a more collegial environment and a de-escalation of hostility over decisions at the DoJ, Klobuchar is probably the smart choice.
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HOLDER=JAIL
TX-96 on May 23, 2013 at 7:23 PM
May this be the beginning of the end.
mikeyboss on May 23, 2013 at 7:24 PM
Dare I hope that this is the straw that breaks the camels back.
gophergirl on May 23, 2013 at 7:26 PM
DOJ names Rosen a co-conspirator to get around the notice requirement, but now states it has no intention to prosecute him, even though Kim — his alleged “co-conspirator” — is being prosecuted.
Pretty transparent ruse, Mr. Holder. If the leak’s so important to national security, why are you letting the fellow who supposedly aided and abetted the espionage violation take a walk?
IndieDogg on May 23, 2013 at 7:27 PM
But does Holder remember he did this.
From his testimony, I’d swear he is in the late stages of Alzheimers.
portlandon on May 23, 2013 at 7:28 PM
Busted! You know what time it is
Sekhmet on May 23, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Holder is THE scum of the earth. If he doesn’t go away because of this, Obama must be impeached.
NavyMustang on May 23, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Once the administration makes clear the difference between “the free press” and “conservative hate speech”, the MSM and the American public will fall back in line.
ROCnPhilly on May 23, 2013 at 7:31 PM
And the back alleys of Washington were alive with the giggle from the rat community who enjoyed the joke.
Don L on May 23, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Maybe just verbally……
There Goes the Neighborhood on May 23, 2013 at 7:33 PM
He didn’t to it in writing, and he’s not sure when.
peski on May 23, 2013 at 7:33 PM
So. Holder is investigating…..himself???
Wonder what the media thinks of that?
But I must say….
All this news coming out in the last couple of weeks has been ever so sweet and delicious. And the possibility of more whistle-blowers? *grin*
AZgranny on May 23, 2013 at 7:34 PM
Holder signed off on the Rosen warrant but later thought better of it and recused himself. At some point later. Can’t remember if he told anyone or not. At some point. Later. Can’t remember.
de rigueur on May 23, 2013 at 7:34 PM
Lolololololol
HotAirLib on May 23, 2013 at 7:35 PM
yeah…ok…
that’s going to bring a wealth of knowledge….not
what a bloody joke
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 7:36 PM
I hear Holder is going to investigate his own actions in the Rosen and AP cases, discuss it with some admin-friendly reporters, and report the minutes personally to the president.
Finally! Transparency and accountability! /s
ROCnPhilly on May 23, 2013 at 7:36 PM
that would be a no….i see another executive privilege decree coming soon
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 7:37 PM
If Bytchell can bring herself to speak ill of the POS then Pigs. Can. Fly.
wyntre9 on May 23, 2013 at 7:37 PM
Holder didn’t know he had signed off on the Rosen case until he read it in the media just today.
But even so, Obama is going to give him a good talking to.
Curtiss on May 23, 2013 at 7:37 PM
“Attorney General” Holder will likely keep President Obama’s full confidence as long as he can do the president’s dirty work without becoming an un-manageable political liability.
tgharris on May 23, 2013 at 7:38 PM
special prosecutor for this???
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 7:38 PM
i have complete confidence in eric holder
-dear leader
he ain’t going anywhere folks…
dear leader is showing leadership
-lsm
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 7:40 PM
Special prosecutors are no longer independent from DOJ. Holder would just appoint another friend of Michelle Obama and end up essentially investigating himself.
ROCnPhilly on May 23, 2013 at 7:41 PM
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Reposted…
Obama sure will be surprised when he finds out about this on Fox News next week.
dddave on May 23, 2013 at 7:43 PM
good point
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 7:44 PM
There was a time when the DOJ fought crime syndicates. Now, under Obama, the DOJ is a crime syndicate.
VorDaj on May 23, 2013 at 7:48 PM
I think you’re right. But if things get too dicey, I think we’ll see the Dems clamouring for a special prosecutor in order to put a lid on everything and postpone any more public information until after the 2014 elections. Plus it will have the added benefit of allowing everyone to refuse to comment on “a matter that is under investigation”.
We’re better off with Issa’s committee and with Trey Gowdy asking the most entertaining questions.
Curtiss on May 23, 2013 at 7:49 PM
So Holder LIED to Congress when he said he DID NOT sign off on the Rosen warrant?
Did he not testify that he had recused himself and delegated that to an Asst AG?
GarandFan on May 23, 2013 at 7:52 PM
Holder must go. Now.
alchemist19 on May 23, 2013 at 7:55 PM
PERP.
WALK.
NOW.
Rebar on May 23, 2013 at 7:55 PM
Holder recused himself from the AP search. Not the Rosen search. In his testimony, he did say that he couldn’t recall how many of these types of searches he had signed.
Curtiss on May 23, 2013 at 7:56 PM
???
I guess the Attorney General is the equivalent ‘rank’ as a Cabinet Secretary, but I haven’t seen him so designated befvore.
LegendHasIt on May 23, 2013 at 7:59 PM
Holder: Two smart by half.
petefrt on May 23, 2013 at 7:59 PM
That’s what I was thinking as well. He flat out lied to Congress.
I don’t see how he gets away with this.
PetecminMd on May 23, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Good point. Actually, just my brain running out of steam, I think, late in the day. I’ll change it.
Mary Katharine Ham on May 23, 2013 at 8:01 PM
so what will the friday night news dump before the holiday will be?
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 8:02 PM
Lap dog… they are what is on the menu for Obama… easier to catch and they make so much less fuss than other dogs.
ajacksonian on May 23, 2013 at 8:02 PM
dear leader has his back…no worries
/
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 8:03 PM
ot: the lsm has their squirrel for the day…forget this bombshell..hung jury in the jodi arias trial
cmsinaz on May 23, 2013 at 8:04 PM
He will because he’s got two impenetrable shields:
A protective, non-reporting media (yes, still) and his race.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on May 23, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Does Holder have an auto-pen like Obama?
can_con on May 23, 2013 at 8:12 PM
A self-activated one that requests documents to sign!
That explains sooooo much about this Administration…
ajacksonian on May 23, 2013 at 8:14 PM
Legal question:
If Holder investigates himself and, by mistake, finds himself guilty, can he appeal to himself for a new trial based on ineffective assistance of counsel?
IndieDogg on May 23, 2013 at 8:29 PM
So is the president really planning on closing Guantanamo prison? Or does he just want to empty out the Muslim terrorist to make room for reporters charged with espionage reporters as well as tea party adherents?
RAN58 on May 23, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Obama is responsible! When the boss doesn’t punish an underling for malfeasance it’s because the boss gave his consent. Underlings are very unlikely do illicit things that would damage his boss if caught without first an Ok or verbal directive from the boss.
It doesn’t take very long a powerful boss to find out who did what when they all work for him. IMO he knows and hasn’t really punished anyone because they did what he wanted. Obama will delay any real punishment as long as possible or never dish it out.
Chessplayer on May 23, 2013 at 8:34 PM
Its a moot question. Once you put a POTUS pardon in your pocket, what need do you have to follow any law?
BobMbx on May 23, 2013 at 8:35 PM
And people who don’t buy the right kind of ‘insurance’ from him.
LegendHasIt on May 23, 2013 at 8:41 PM
Funny thing about the lap DOG media, one day Obama may eat them……….
Its what’s for breakfast ………….
angrymike on May 23, 2013 at 8:41 PM
The Dog Eating Kenyan muli signed off on it too. And if you think differently you voted for him
Rio Linda Refugee on May 23, 2013 at 9:03 PM
Holder = Black = Untouchable….as he sticks in your face while laughing outloud!
dmann on May 23, 2013 at 9:09 PM
Holder hasn’t done a single, solitary thing Obama didn’t want him to do. Holder may get canned, but he will be rewarded or has already been compensated by Obama for all hits he may be taking for the ‘regime team.’
marybel on May 23, 2013 at 9:18 PM
Ok, does this or does it not mean that Holder lied in his congressional testimony? I mean, we know he’s been lying, but does this go directly against his testimony?
Sick to death of that f*cker – all of them, really. Ready to see some of these bastards in jail.
Midas on May 23, 2013 at 9:24 PM
The HuffPo giving up on Holder is like Hershey’s kicking Oprah to the curb…Blue Bird is going to have to step up bus production at the rate this admin is being tossed under…
hillsoftx on May 23, 2013 at 9:27 PM
Progressives are eating themselves.
Priceless……
itsspideyman on May 23, 2013 at 10:06 PM
No need for all that. Holder is black, so he can give himself the same treatment he gave the New Black Panther who, carrying a nightstick, menaced white Philadelphia voters in 2008 and was subsequently found guilty of voter intimidation. Holder basically “uncharged” him after the fact and told him he couldn’t intimidate voters again until 2012.
I am not joking.
ROCnPhilly on May 23, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Great article by Peggy Noonan, discussing whether Holder can investigate the goings-on in the IRS:
A dead serious investigation is needed. The IRS has colorfully demonstrated that it cannot investigate itself. The Obama administration wants the FBI—which answers to Eric Holder’s Justice Department—to investigate, but that would not be credible. The investigators of the IRS must be independent of the administration, or their conclusions will not be trustworthy.
An independent counsel, with all the powers of that office, is what we need.
Again, if what happened at the IRS is not stopped now—if the internal corruption within it is not broken—it will never stop, and never be broken. The American people will never again be able to have the slightest confidence in the revenue-gathering arm of their government. And that, actually, would be tragic.
itsspideyman on May 23, 2013 at 10:53 PM
Holder will never see jail. Why? He knows where the bodies are buried. Obama wont see impeachment because hes got a whole lot of lowinfovohos snowed into thinking hes their savior. I wish I had more faith in the Americans who voted for this bunch of losers but they just arent that bright.
neyney on May 24, 2013 at 12:55 AM
Not even Fox noticed this. Barky has told Holder to investigate how these warrants are obtained. Holder signed Rosen’s warrant so he’s investgating himself. Fox and others got that one, but in his terror speech Barky says a commitee will evaluate and sign off on drone strikes. Yet the NYT has famously reported that Barky himself signed off on EVERY drone strike. So Barky has Holder investigate Holder and a commitee evaluate himself. James Donald’s line at the end of River Kwai,” Madness!! Madness!!!!” is appropriate here.
xkaydet65 on May 24, 2013 at 9:20 AM
Why should Holder’s signature on a document be any sort of problem?
It was no problem that Shrillary signed off refusing to provide more security to Ambassador Stevens.
Why don’t we stupid underlings understand that Holder and Hillary are way too busy, busy, busy, to know what they are signing!
Besides, Holder got his boss elected again. Stay or go, he will be amply rewarded.
marybel on May 24, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Of which year?
Oh, and watch for some catastrophe to strike just before July 12th……
GWB on May 24, 2013 at 9:43 AM
ROFLMAO! No, it wouldn’t be tragic if Americans learned not to trust their government with all of their private information and the ability to crawl inside their lives with an electron microscope. The fact it requires this to accomplish that is tragic. We should have revolted when the IRS’ answer to “where did all that budget money go?” was a giant shrug. We should have required the same answer for them as would happen to any taxpayer who treated their money that cavalierly (for tax purposes).
GWB on May 24, 2013 at 9:49 AM
This administration is just plain EVIL. We need to clean house and focus on reducing all of government… laws, rules and regulations, departments and staff, cabinets, taxes, EVERYTHING.
dominigan on May 24, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Let’s not use the “I” word. No matter how desperately needed, an impeachment would immediately transform Ogabe into a martyr. Whatever ground we have gained in the LSM because the LSM has found itself at the broken end of Ogabe’s bottle will instantly be lost. The narrative will immediately become that of the racist Teabaggers’ political assault on the first black president. It is the nature of the LSM, just as it was the scorpion’s nature to kill the frog even though the scorpion caused its own death in the process.
Bill Clinton and the LSM managed to spin the charge of the President of the United States lying in court under oath into 1) unhinged Republican revenge for Nixon, and 2) it was just sex between two consenting adults. Don’t think the same thing can’t happen again. The LSM may be acting the part of the scorned lover right now, but the instant the object of their affection is threatened, they will valiantly throw themselves into the breech to protect him.
Let him twist in the wind. Let the evidence of his incompentance and viciousness continue to dribble out.
Besides — do you really want “President Biden”?
catsandbooks on May 24, 2013 at 12:45 PM