Holder Cuts Backroom Deal with GOP

Holder, the U.S. Attorney General in waiting, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 17-2. This report most likely explains why:

Eric H. Holder Jr.'s confirmation as attorney general is speeding toward approval thanks in part to his private assurances to a key Republican senator that he does not intend to prosecute intelligence agency interrogators for their actions during the prior administration.

The assurances, reported by Sen. Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Republican, to The Washington Times on Wednesday, went beyond Mr. Holder's earlier public testimony in which he said he could not prejudge his actions regarding cases he had not seen.

"I believe [Mr. Holder] will look forward to keep the nation safe and not look backwards to prosecute intelligence operators who were fighting terror and kept our country safe since 9/11," Mr. Bond said in the interview.

However, an aide to Mr. Holder who requested anonymity because the nominee has not been confirmed, disputed this version of events. "Eric Holder has not made any commitments about who would or would not be prosecuted," the aide said. "He explained his position to Senator Bond as he did in the public hearing and in his responses to written questions."

Still, Mr. Holder's private comments to Mr. Bond were important to moving his nomination forward. Mr. Bond was strongly considering blocking Mr. Holder's confirmation based on questions arising from some of Mr. Holder's public statements, a senior aide to Mr. Bond said.

But after meeting with Mr. Holder twice over the past week and having received assurances that he was not intent on pursuing intelligence officials who acted in good faith with proper authorization in the conduct of interrogations, Mr. Bond decided to support the nominee, the aide added.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to favorably recommend Mr. Holder, 58, for the post. The full Senate is expected to confirm Mr. Holder soon as the nation's first black attorney general.

BREAKING: Did Marc Rich Bribe Clinton with 250 Million? -- Audio from Confidential Witness

Did fugitive Marc Rich bribe Clinton with 250 million?

Doug Ross received a sworn declaration from a confidential witness who is prepared to testify and should testify in the confirmation hearings of Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder.

Here is alleged audio from the confidential witness:



h/t Stop the ACLU

Obama Considering Attorney General Pick Who Has Ties to Mark Rich Pardon Scandal

This is the change we've been waiting for?

President-elect Barack Obama's aides have privately asked senators whether Washington attorney Eric Holder would be confirmed as the next attorney general, according to a person involved in the talks.

The talks suggest that Obama is deeply interested in Holder, who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Clinton.

In the past week, Obama aides have asked Senate Republicans whether they would support Holder. In particular, the aides questioned whether Holder's confirmation would be delayed because of his involvement in the 2001 pardon of fugitive Marc Rich by President Bill Clinton.

Newsweek, quoting unidentified legal sources close to the presidential transition team, reported Tuesday that Obama offered Holder the job and he accepted. Newsweek said Holder still has to undergo a formal "vetting" review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final.

One person involved in the talks told The Associated Press that the Obama team has received some assurances that, while the Rich pardon would certainly come up during hearings, the nomination likely wouldn't be held up over that. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private conversations.

On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had been spent years running from tax charges. Holder said he was "neutral, leaning towards favorable" on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.

So change means trotting a bunch of Clinton retreads?