ticklethewire.com
WASHINGTON — It’s official.
The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Eric. H. Holder Jr. Monday night as the 82nd Attorney General of United States, replacing Michael Mukasey who was tasked with repairing the damaged reputation of the department. The vote was 75-21.
Holder, a well-liked figure in Washington, becomes the first black Attorney General. He faced some tough questioning last month about pardons under the Clinton administration during confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But in the end, the committee voted 17-2 to confirm him. Before Monday’s full Senate vote, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) voiced opposition to the confirmation because of Holder’s pro-gun control views. Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah) said he didn’t agree with all of Holders’ beliefs, but said he supported him. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a big Holdler supporter, voiced sharp criticism of former A.G. Alberto Gonzalez while saying that no “nomination for attorney general fills me with greater pride than this one.”
