Eric H. Holder, Jr. is a senior legal advisor to President-Elect Barack Obama. He is reportedly the leading candidate to become the next Attorney General of the United States under Obama’s administration.
Update: It is official. Michael Isikoff of Newsweek has broken the news. The next Attorney General of the United States is Eric Holder.
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Eric Holder is one of Barack Obama’s leading candidates for Attorney General. If appointed, he would be the country’s first African American Attorney General. He was a senior advisor to Obama’s campaign and a member of his Vice Presidential search committee. John McCain criticized Barack Obama for hiring Holder, because many in the Republican party questioned Holder’s character. Holder recommended the pardon of Mark Rich as Deputy attorney general under Bill Clinton’s administration. At the time, Republicans highly criticized Clinton’s pardon of Rich, a Democratic commodities trader who fled to Europe to avoid charges of tax evasion and illegal deals with Iran. Because Rich was well-connected in the Democratic party, he never had to face punishment for his crimes.
Eric Holder was born in 1951 in New York City. His parents were immigrants from Barbados. He grew up in Queens and graduated from Stuyvesant High School, a magnet high school in Manhattan. He graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in 1973 and a J.D. in 1976. Holder began his career as a trial attorney in the Justice Department. Ronald Reagan appointed him as a Associate Judge in the District of Columbia in 1988.
Bill Clinton appointed Holder as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in 1993. In 1997, Clinton appointed him as Deputy Attorney General, the first African American to hold the position.
Holder served as Acting Attorney General under President George W. Bush until the Senate confirmed John Ashcroft. A resident of Washington, D.C., Holder is currently a partner at the law firm Covington & Burling in Washington D.C. For Barack Obama’s campaign, Holder served as a senior legal advisor and a member of Obama’s vice presidential selection committee. He is married and has three children.
November 8th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I wonder if obama will address our growing prison populations(2.3 million inside and 7.5 on probation or parole) because of the expanding war on drugs? Half of inmates are in for drug related charges. So many are black. And they are building more prisons everywhere and installing more shu’s(segregated housing units=isolation cells) like crazy. I was watching tv and I saw three routine traffic stops turn into dead drivers in the half hour. The police pulled someone over for going through a light, driving odd, or tinted windows and the suspects were armed and quickly shot dead over small amounts of drugs under the seat. One was for three onces of marijuana. Two people were shot dead over that one. Regardless of the crime, the police started it and in our system of law if a criminal kills someone, or one of the gang does, in a robbery all are charged with murder. You or I many not like these characters and they are certainly dangerous but if the laws weren’t so draconian people wouldn’t be trying to shoot themselves out of a 3 bag marijuana bust. The people at the very top of our society walk off with many millions of dollars legally fleeced from the rest of us, and those that may do some illegal drug are fair game for slaughter. Something is wrong. Yes drugs are drugs, booze is booze, and cigarettes are cigarettes are all problematic and can run lives, brains, and lungs, but shooting people over it, is it necessary? Is dumping able bodied people in prison for long sentences over it, or evading the police by trying to drive away just as destructive to society, families, personal lives? There was a time that many drugs were simply violations and misdemeanors in fairly generous quantities and the violence was much less as the penalites were in the checkbook range. Now the penalities totally destroy ones life and employability forever and is this a humane or sensible way to go? There was a time that society looked at drugs as a nuisance, but for minor drugs they didn’t see them as a disease. Now we see drinking alcohol in a public place a disease, or urinating behind a dumpster a sex offense, and permanently alter ones life over it including and up to shooting them dead if they resist arrest or chasing them into a soccer mom’s car on the way back from the game causing multiple fatalities. Its plain bad public policy.
November 8th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Brian, Obama from 2000 or 2006 would be talking about ending the war on drugs.
Obama from 2008 will not, and cannot do so. Just like Clinton before him, he will have to take a “tough on crime” approach or he will be accused of being a weak liberal. He has to be centrist on the crime issue.
Do you really thing the first black president can afford to tell America that he’s ending the war on drugs? It would be political disaster.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
point taken, but our criminal justice system is anything but centrist today. Its quite to the right and focused almost exclusively on punishment and retribution. Most of the new recruits into our police forces are all ex army and marines who fought the insurgencys in iraq and afghanistan, and frankly they see much of the population’s crime in the US as a type of insurgency. They even use military lingo in their operations. Its a mentality. There is some movement among some in congress to revisit some parts of it as the medical marijuana state laws, and even some who favor decriminalizing it period. Its hard to say, but given the constraint on state budgets to fund and keep going all these prisons a coalition of state governours, congress people, and advocacy groups could come up with more diversion programs and a reframing of attitudes towards nonviolent offenders. You have good points though and given American’s love of expanding the criminal justice system into all aspects of their personal lives it is hard to be optimistic. I think by reframing drugs as minor problem ones as marijuana while maintaining others as meth, cocaine, and heroin as major problems would be helpful. Today they make all of them essentially equally evil and people can see its not true. The main reason why marijuana is a gateway drug is by so criminalizing it, the dealer who sells it has nothing to lose so they offer cocaine and amphetamine or whatever is good for the money. They all carry guns and are associated with hard core criminals. I think actually more people who experiement in youth are drawn into the hard stuff this way as the same dealer carrys all. It use to be that marijuana dealers didn’t associate with the hard drug types and so access to that was restricted. By the government rewriting the schedules and demonizing them all equally they created a monster that preys on the naive.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I said last week that Obama “The Candidate of Change” will appoint Clinton leftovers and Congress rejects to his administration.
63 million people won’t see that as not being a change from the same people. They will see it as being very wise of Obama to pick such brilliant people.
As for drugs and blacks in prison, it is their fault not mine. It could be said that most of the blame comes from the left’s war on poverty. Which broke up traditional families in the black community in the 1960’s. Prior to LBJ’s Great Society, most blacks were conservative republicans. But the democrats convinced some that they would take care of them. In return, most blacks vote for Democrats.
Democrats=Good. Republicans=HATE+LIES+RAC**T+BIGOTS+ALL AROUND HATE.
Funny how we still have people on the governments plantation (Housing and Welfare)40 plus years later.
I thought throwing money at the problem would fix it.
Education and not having children until married are two keys to getting out of poverty, not having the government provide for generations of people.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
George, it is your fault blacks are in prison for drugs too. You passively went along with the law makers and allowed a draconian repressive war on drugs imprison your fellow citizen’s, many for simple possession, of a chemical or plant they were going to ingest. Separate from violent offenders, insane crack, meth, heroin heads, that truely menace society and hurt people why be so mean as to put so many people in jail. Jail and all the laws aren’t always right you know, and the courts have changed to be a lot more punitive too. Why do you or I need to punish our fellow citizens with prison for small possession charges? I am amazed at how Americans in general are so into punishing and imprisoning each other under the guise of the law, or the excuse of a deemed “crime” that then not only incarcerates them but ruins their lives, families, jobs, and future? Where does this meanness come from?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I agree all heartedly. The penalities for drug offenses and even other types of crimes which are non-violent in nature are completely draconian. I don’t understand how a member of congress can pass laws knowing that the outcome will be over zealous prosecutors locking individuals up for 5, 7, or 10 years + for an amount of methamphetamine you can hold in your hand. Or ten years for a handful of pain meds that someone with a legitimate problem may actually be taking because he or she needs them to get through the day. Why can’t they see a doctor and get these meds you ask? This is why…if you have one lousy visit to a hospital ER some several years ago due to a drug overdose or bad reaction let’s say at some rave party that you stupidly attended when you were 21. Thast person is now labeled as a known drug user and abuser and will never be able to get pain meds again regardless of any condition. Plus the DEA and this miserable overregulated government have handcuffed (some literally) doctors so much that they fear writing scripts for narcotics frequently. they know they will be scrutinized and possibly harrassed at certain times if one of their patients happens to commit a crime, or is a celebrity, and God knows what.
Universal health care is the worst thing to happen to this country if it happens. I will certainly move the hell out so quick if it is implemented. I do not want my medical records to be even more easily accessed by corrupt government officials, local yoyo cops, and God knows what other agency of the governments. I don’t want to see a doctor who has to abide by some paid off FDA panel’s rules when prescribing me any drug therapy I may need or not even need.
Did you know that the Harvard University researchers have just uncovered a bunch of lies in and flawed research in government funded studies showing steroids were dangerous? Surprise huh? Turns out these drugs are much less harmful than ever suspected, and that they do NOT cause prostrate cancer. In fact a low testosterone level is more responsible for cases of prostrate cancer than high testosterone levels. I believe all you men on anti-testosterone drugs prescribed by your mindless scared to death doctors to fight your enlarge prostrate now have a nice formal lawsuit against uncle sam and the FDA/drug company alliance for robbing you of your manhood and sexuality.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Its a sad day when a college student can get busted with a small roach in the car ashtray and loose their Ability to drive a car for up to a year, their student aide and also have to pay more than tuition in fines and penalties. How exactly do laws like this help folks? I pay taxes and beer makes me sick, Id much rather spark one up and relax with my girls and watch a movie and snack. Id get arrested and loose all I have worked so hard to get. Yet my loud obnoxious neighbor can down a 24pack and blair loud music all night with nothing more than a noise complaint? Wake up guys war on drugs is just a way to get budget for operation cost for PD’s and Municipals. Giving a small ticket doesn’t compare to all the money to be made by busting someone. SR22 insurance,probation fee’s, Court Cost.lots of money to be made off those who fall afoul of these stupid laws that do little more than convey oppressive dominance over our personal lives/choices/habits by the Federal Gov.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Holder did not “recommend[] the pardon of Mark Rich as Deputy attorney general under Bill Clinton’s administration”. In fact, one of the reasons this pardon was so controversial was that Clinton bypassed the Justice Department — and thus Holder — when he issued it.
Holder did say afterward that he had a “favorable” view of the pardon, but he said that without having conducted a review. After learning more about Rich, he publicly said he would have recommended denying the pardon.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Brian, you poor boy. If blacks and whites are in prison, it is because they are criminals. CRIMINALS have no regard for the law. To say it is my fault because they are in prison proves the point that drugs kill brain cells because the have killed yours. If you want to abuse your body and take drugs, knock yourself out but when you are sent to prison, take responsibility for it. If you think we should not have a war on drugs you are a walking poster child for the war on drugs.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
George, it is obvious that you are an arrogant and mean-spirited person who has no compassion for others. If you look at the results of the War on Drugs it is clear that the overall impact on both society and individuals is far greater than the impact of the drug use itself. I don’t deny that drug abuse can destroy lives, but the current drug laws insure that the drug user’s life will be destroyed permanately. This might make you feel better about yourself by giving you someone to look down on, but it a disaster to our society.
The War on Drugs needs to be ended and those resources put into other areas that will benefit our society.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Keith,
You may not believe in personal responsibility, but most people do. If you want to take drugs, then you need to know that if you are caught selling drugs, you are going to jail and maybe prison. That is a decision that only you can make. I can’t force you to take, sell or buy drugs.
You are wrong about me being arrogant and mean-spirited. I have a nephew in federal prison for selling cocaine. He is serving 8 years. He thought he could sell drugs to pay off some bills. He made a decision to do that.
If we don’t put people in prison of selling drugs, then let’s not put them in prison for rape, murder, child molestation, and all other crimes. How does putting them in prison benefit our society?
Education is the key. The other is parents being involved in that education.
November 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
[...] Secretary of State, as we reported here. Eric Holder will be the Attorney General, as we reported here. Janet Napolitano will be named the head of the Department of Homeland [...]