Holder to stay on as Attorney General

Roll Call reports that “despite being the first attorney general ever to be held in contempt of Congress, Eric Holder intends to stay in his post for the foreseeable future.” According to Roll Call, “Holder had been expected to step down relatively early into President Barack Obama’s second term.” But no such luck.

There’s a certain logic to Holder’s retention. Obama has made a series of in-your-face nominations — Chuck Hagel, John Brennan, and Jack Lew. But no nominee for Justice could match Holder in this department. Holder’s continued tenure at DOJ represents the “in your face” move.

Holder is also an African-American in a decreasingly “diverse” cabinet. But Obama could maintain the diversity Holder brings by nominating Jeh Johnson, the African-American General Counsel of the Defense Department, for Attorney General. Johnson, whose manipulation helped bring an end to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” is among the names mentioned as Holder’s eventual replacement.

Even without knowing who will succeed Holder, we can hope that “eventual” doesn’t turn out to be a long time from now.

JOHN adds: I suspect that Holder is in a position analogous to an embezzling accountant who can’t take a vacation lest her misdeeds be discovered. If that is the case, he will hang on to his position as long as possible.

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