[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 13, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S323-S324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NOMINATION OF ERIC HOLDER
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I am honored to serve on the Judiciary
Committee in this body. The last couple of years have been very
difficult years in how the Department of Justice has been managed. We
have seen abuses of civil liberties in the name of trying to protect
the rights of our citizens when we have abused the rights of our
citizens; we found the Department of Justice tried to justify the use
of torture in this country; the manner in which detainees were treated;
the politicizing of the Department of Justice--I could go on and on.
I thank Eric Holder for being willing to serve the public once again
as President-elect Obama's nominee for the office of Attorney General
of the United States. I think Eric Holder is the right person at the
right time for the Department of Justice, and I hope his confirmation
process will move forward.
We need an independent Attorney General. During the Bush
administration, we found that they politicized the Department of
Justice in the firing of U.S. attorneys and in decisions as to
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whether to proceed with criminal investigations. The list goes on and
on. Eric Holder has demonstrated throughout his entire career the type
of independence we need in the next Attorney General of the United
States.
Let me give you one example. When the Independent Counsel who was
investigating the President of the United States asked for additional
authority, Eric Holder was the one who made that recommendation to
proceed even though it was not popular at all with the President of the
United States. It is that type of independence that we need in the next
Attorney General of the United States. He brings broad experience as
former judge, former U.S. attorney, and from the private sector.
We need to take politics out of the Department of Justice. During the
Bush administration, we found that politics was very much interwoven
into the personnel decisions made within the Department of Justice
affecting career attorneys. That was not permitted, but it was done. We
need the next Attorney General to be one who will make sure politics
has no place in those types of personnel decisions.
Again, Eric Holder's career has shown his willingness to carry out
his responsibilities in a nonpolitical way. He has handled major public
corruption cases as a U.S. attorney against both Democrats and
Republicans. He understands the responsibilities of the Department of
Justice.
We need our next Attorney General to reestablish the premier role of
the Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division. The Civil
Rights Division historically has been the key agency to protect the
civil rights of the people of this Nation. We need the next Attorney
General to reestablish that in the Department of Justice. Once again,
Eric Holder has demonstrated that sensitivity that will restore the
role of the Department of Justice in protecting the voting rights of
all Americans.
The list goes on and on and on. Bottom line, the next Attorney
General must restore the reputation of the Department of Justice. I
believe he is the right person, but it is not only me. Let me read from
some of the record that has been presented to the Judiciary Committee.
Both law enforcement and civil rights groups support Eric Holder. The
Fraternal Order of Police writes that:
Our members reported that they found Judge Holder and U.S.
Attorney Holder an able and aggressive prosecutor.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, which is a group of our
major civil rights advocates in this country said:
Mr. Holder's various experience as a trial attorney, judge,
prosecutor and lawyer in private practice make him uniquely
qualified to run the Department of Justice. It would be
difficult to find a candidate more experienced in the
Department or better suited to lead it. His background will
render him ready to lead the Department from day one. His
even-mindedness and sound judgment will ensure that justice
is dispensed fairly and equitably. His professional
accomplishments and ability to put partisan politics aside
make him above reproach. His commitment to the rule of law
makes him the ideal candidate for the nation's top
prosecutor.
Now, that is the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, which, again,
is comprised of the premier groups in this country that are out there
fighting for the rights of the people of this country.
I would also draw my colleagues' attention to a January 7, 2009,
letter received by the Judiciary Committee from several former high-
level Department of Justice officials in the Republican administration.
They write:
We are pleased to be able to write in support of Eric
Holder, a man who stands with the most qualified who have
been privileged to be nominated to be Attorney General of the
United States. President-elect Obama's nomination of Eric as
the historic appointment of the first African-American
Attorney General should be hailed as a milestone. He is an
extraordinary lawyer and an even better person.
We need to move forward immediately in the leadership in the
Department of Justice. I would urge my colleagues, let us move forward
on the confirmation process as quickly as possible. I look forward to
Eric Holder being the next Attorney General of the United States. I
hope we will do that very shortly.
I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Whitehouse.) The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida is recognized.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator will suspend for one moment.
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