WASHINGTON — Attorney Gen. Eric Holder Jr. is finding out just how fun it can be to head the Justice Department when some politicians want your head.
The New York Times reported Thursday that Holder failed to notify the Senate last year during the conformation hearings that “he had signed several briefs urging courts to reject President George W. Bush’s claim that he had the power to imprison an American citizen as an “enemy combatant,” the Justice Department acknowledged Thursday.”
The Times reported that Republicans are likely to attack Holder over failing to turn over the documents as he was required to do.
“The briefs should have been disclosed as part of the confirmation process,” said Matthew Miller, a Justice Department spokesman, according to the Times. “In preparing thousands of pages for submission, it was unfortunately and inadvertently missed. In any event, the attorney general has publicly discussed his positions on detention policy on many occasions, including at his confirmation hearing.”
Meanwhile, on Friday the news website Main Justice that Holder turned over to the Senate half a dozen Supreme Court briefs he failed to disclose.
“We regret the omission,” Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said in a letter accompanying the list of amicus briefs not included in Holder’s Senate questionnaire, as required, according to Main Justice.
