Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday poked Senate Republicans for not yet approving his replacement, Loretta Lynch, joking that he’s “feeling love” from the GOP.
“There is no place I would rather be in my closing days as attorney general than here with you all. Or, at least, these should be my closing days,” Holder said in a speech on the My Brother’s Keeper initiative at the Center for American Progress in Washington.
{mosads}”Given the Senate’s scheduling and delays in considering Loretta Lynch’s nomination for a vote, it’s almost as if the Republicans in Congress have discovered a new fondness for me. I’m feeling love there that I haven’t felt for some time,” Holder said.
“Where was all this affection for the last six years?” Holder asked.
Holder has had an often-testy relationship with Republicans during his six-year term over issues such as his department’s botched handling of the “Fast and Furious” gun-tracking operation.
He has said he will remain attorney general until his replacement is confirmed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he won’t bring up the nomination of Lynch, whom President Obama nominated in November, until Democrats allow a vote on an anti-human-trafficking bill.
Democrats are blocking the measure because it contains an amendment banning the use of federal funds for abortion. The legislation unanimously passed the Judiciary Committee earlier this year.
“All it takes is a few more Democrats of courage to ignore the lobbyists,” McConnell said Wednesday. “No command from left-wing lobbyists could justify filibustering the critical help this human rights bill would provide.”
Meanwhile, Democrats have ratcheted up their rhetoric on the delayed nomination, with Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) accusing Republicans on Wednesday of making Lynch “sit in the back of the bus.”