Leahy pushes back Holder confirmation hearing

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
announced Monday that, in response to GOP requests, he would push back the confirmation
hearing of Attorney General nominee Eric Holder.

{mosads}“The committee has not yet received the names of other
designees for high-ranking Department of Justice officials that we had
anticipated and more time is now available to the Judiciary Committee,” Leahy stated.
“Therefore, to accommodate the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, at their
request we are delaying the hearing, again, until Jan. 15.”

Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the ranking Republican on the
panel, has called for the hearings not to begin until Jan. 26. GOP senators are
expected to question Holder about his previous stint at the Department of
Justice and his role in controversial pardons former President Bill Clinton
issued on his way out of office.

“It is disappointing to me that [Senate Republicans] are
insisting that we delay at a time when the nation needs its top law enforcement
officer and national security team in place and working,” Leahy said. “I trust
that with this additional time to prepare, they will cooperate in proceeding
promptly to committee and Senate consideration of the historic Holder
nomination as Democrats did for President Bush.”

A senior GOP aide said Specter “is not completely content” with the
extra week that Leahy has provided, but said “the additional week should allow
more time, at least, and that’s what’s important.”

The hearing was originally scheduled to be held Jan. 8.