Eric Holder Resigning: Why Is U.S. Attorney General Stepping Down Suddenly?


U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is resigning from office after six years of being America’s Top Cop. The resignation comes on the heels of the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, and years of showdowns with Congress over numerous policy issues.

NPR first broke the news of Eric Holder’s resignation. However, according to Evan Perez with CNN, the rumors have been running rampant for quite a while now.

Sources said Holder has been focused on his career beyond the White House, which includes opportunities in the private sector. Apparently, he has been “adamant” about leaving before he became “locked down” into a second term of Obama’s presidency.

Eric Holder is the first African-American U.S. attorney general, the 82nd confirmed to the position, and the third-longest serving in his role.

Holder, who will likely be measured by his impact on civil rights, is famous for saying “America is a nation of cowards” for not addressing the chronic disparity among race in this country. In wake of the police shooting of an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Eric Holder traveled to the torn town and met with the fallen teen’s family members, community leaders, residents, law enforcement, and members of the clergy.

His visit was criticized by pundits, conservatives, the legal sector, and members of the GOP. Nonetheless, instead of cowering to pressure, he promised a fair and objective investigation into the police department’s practices with handling the community of residents. Moreover, he pledged to review agencies all across the nation to ensure the relationship between police officers and the community they serve are in balance.

Holder took on a litany of issues, any of which prognosticators thought would end his career as attorney general before his time expired.

Eric Holder’s tenure in office will likely be defined by his focus on federal sentencing guideline reform, marijuana laws, same-sex marriage, civil rights, and the infamous Fast and Furious controversy.

Eric Holder is one of Barack Obama’s inner-circle and most trusted confidants, according to CNN sources. It’s unknown if Holder’s sudden resignation plans will have an even more polarizing effect with GOP opponents, who are gearing up for a showdown with Democrats for the 2016 Elections.

Attorney General Holder’s successor has not been chosen by the president, but many close to the developments of his resignation say Solicitor General Don Verrilli, a respected Department of Justice (DOJ) and White House legal professional, tops the short list of candidates.

Although Eric Holder is resigning, the process of confirmation by Congress could take until the end of 2014.

[Image via: Huffington Post]

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