Possible replacement remains uncertain
Thursday, Sept. 25, just before 5:00 p.m., US Attorney General Eric Holder announced his resignation after six years.
In an address delivered at the White House State Dining Room, with President Obama at his side, Holder proclaimed that he is proud of what he has accomplished in his term, and that he is happy to leave the Department of Justice in such a strong state.
During his term, Holder fought organized crime, cases of terror, and corporate crime. President Obama, in his speech regarding Holder’s resignation, said that Holder “rooted up corruption and fought violent crime.” Obama also revealed that in Holder’s term, crime rates and incarceration rates dropped by 10 per cent. “Eric has done a superb job,” the President held.
Holder assured in his address that he would continue to serve his country and strive to make the United States a “nation even more true to its founding ideals.” Holder confirmed that he would stay on until his replacement has been decided, which is now, of course, the foremost concern.
Heading in to the last two years of his second term, it is safe to say that President Obama will most likely choose a replacement he is comfortable with. Because of this, current speculation hovers over the idea that Holder’s replacement will likely be someone close to the president.
A very likely candidate is Deval Patrick, the current Governor of Massachusetts. Governor Patrick is a close friend of the President, but there are other reasons for speculation about Patrick’s appointment.
During the Clinton administration, Governor Patrick assisted the Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. Patrick is also not seeking re-election in Massachusetts, and will thus be looking for a new job. The only interjection is that Patrick may be looking further into the future than Attorney General, as rumors circulate of his potential campaign for President in 2016.
A second, very plausible decision would be current California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Harris may face trouble with Senate confirmation, especially if the Republicans re-gain control of the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections, due to her very liberal political policy. However, with a presidential term structured around diversity, a female African- and Asian-American is a very likely candidate.
Kathy Ruemmler is a third credible option. Ruemmler has served as White House Council for the past three years and is very close with the President. However, her position as the President’s personal lawyer is said to raise question as to the independence of a Justice Department with such loyalties to the Presidential Administration.
Regardless of any speculation as to what the decision may be, the process of assigning a new Attorney General will likely take the remainder of 2014, if not several months into 2015.