GOP Gunning for Eric Holder

"Senate panel wants testimony about Eric Holder" (LA Times):

Holder, a highly regarded former prosecutor who served as Clinton's deputy attorney general, is likely to be confirmed easily in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

But some Republicans, including the ranking GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, are intent on grilling the former deputy attorney general on his role in three Clinton-era controversies, including the clemency granted to 16 members of the FALN (the Spanish acronym for Armed Forces of National Liberation) or the splinter group Los Macheteros. They had been convicted in Chicago and Hartford, Conn., variously of bank robbery, possession of explosives and participating in a seditious conspiracy. Most had already served lengthy prison terms.
(snip)
In a conference call with reporters Friday evening, Specter reiterated his interest in questioning Holder about the clemency case, the pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, and Holder's decision not to appoint a special counsel to investigate allegations of fundraising irregularities involving former Vice President Al Gore.

"Nominee Holder to Face Critics on Hill" (Wall Street Journal):

Republicans say they will challenge Eric Holder over Clinton-era pardons, national-security law and his work as a corporate lawyer, but those questions at his confirmation hearings this week aren't likely to derail President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general.
(snip)
The controversy over Mr. Gonzales and criticism that he too readily acceded to the White House are fueling some of the scrutiny of Mr. Holder's record. Most controversial is Mr. Holder's failure to say "no" to the Clinton White House in the pardons for Mr. Rich and for 16 members of a Puerto Rican nationalist group that was labeled a terrorist organization by U.S. officials.

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary panel, said he is awaiting Mr. Holder's responses at the hearing before deciding on his vote on confirmation. In a Senate speech last week on Mr. Holder's nomination, he said, "Sometimes it is more important for the attorney general to have the stature and courage to say 'no' than to say 'yes.' "
(snip)
Other issues likely to be raised at the hearings include Mr. Holder's work as a lawyer since leaving the Justice Department. In response to the Judiciary panel's questionnaire, Mr. Holder lists several major corporate clients he has represented in private practice including UBS Financial Services Inc. in an alleged discrimination case, and Merck & Co. in a matter related to the company's drug pricing and sales practices and Chiquita Brands International Inc. in a plea deal arising from a ubsidiary's payments to Colombian paramilitary groups.

Howie P.S.: It is so heartening to see members of the minority party becoming interested in developing character traits like "stature and courage." Surely this will carry over to an interest in exploring other instances where these admirable qualities were noticeably absent, particularly in the Bush Justice Department. Meanwhile, and perhaps not uncoincidentally, Bob Fertik (Democrats.com) has organized: "Sign a Petition to Attorney General-Designate, Eric Holder: "Special Prosecutor for Bush War Crimes." Due to the extremely large number of signatures that have already been forwarded to Holder, he has already responded:

"Enough folks. I hear you."

And the organizers have now responded to this message from Holder:

"So out of respect we stopped forwarding each signature individually and will instead give him the list in full before the Senate confirmation hearings."

Barack Obama