rssPosts by Kate Klonick
HOLDER HEARING: Holder: ‘We Were at War Before Sept. 11′
Eric Holder might have surprised a few people with this answer to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) question of whether the nation is at war:
I don’t think there’s any question that we are at war, and I think, to be honest, I think our nation didn’t realize that we were
Former DOJ Civil Rights Official Apologizes For Racist Email
As we wrote earlier this week, the most recent inspector general’s report on the politicization of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department reminded everyone just how big a joke the department had become under the Bush administration.
Now, someone has apologized, but even the apology is a farce.
HOLDER HEARING: Holder Will Cooperate with OIG, Create “Damage Assessment”
One thing is for sure, no one wants another Alberto Gonzales at the Justice Department.
The infamous former attorney general’s name has haunted Holder’s confirmation hearing, and been invoked by almost all of the senators as an example of what they don’t want to see again at the department.
Holder, More…
HOLDER HEARING: Senate Grills Holder on Wiretapping and FISA
In addition to Guantanamo Bay and torture, the big topics of the day seems to be warrant-less surveillance and Federal Intelligence and Surveillance Act and nailing Eric Holder down on whether or not he’ll break from the recent history of the Department of Justice under President George W. Bush.
Sen. Russ Feingold More…
HOLDER HEARING: Feinstein Brings Up Schlozman and OIG Report
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) started her line of questioning with the recent report on the politicization of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and asked Eric Holder his thoughts on it.
Holder replied that it’s “antithetical to everything the Justice Department stands for” and added that this wasn’t something he’d allow if More…
HOLDER HEARING: If Called, Will You Kick the Prez’s Butt at Basketball?
Glad to know someone is asking some hard-hitting questions. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) closed his unremarkable, pandering questioning with the fluffiest of fluffy inquiries, asking Eric Holder if he’d do his best to “defeat” President-elect Barack Obama if Holder faces him on the basketball court:
HOLDER HEARING: Specter and Holder and Rich
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) predictably started right in on questioning Eric Holder on his involvement with Marc Rich. Starting with this generous quote:
“it’s a little hard for me to see how you came to the conclusion you did,” Specter opened. “Conceding the fact that none of us is perfect.” More…
HOLDER HEARING: Holder Preempts Marc Rich Questions
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) just gave Eric Holder the chance to preempt the minority questions on Marc Rich, and I think this quote sums up what his talking points will be on the subject:
“I will be a better attorney general, having had the Marc Rich experience.”
Holder also said More…
HOLDER HEARING: Holder: Waterboarding Is Torture
And we’re off!
What a start. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) opened up with a question on waterboarding and whether or not Holder considers it to be torture, to which Eric Holder answered in the affirmative.
“If you look at the history of this technique, used by the Khmer Rouge, used in More…
HOLDER HEARING: ‘Fair, Just and Independent’
After introducing his family — all of whom seem to be there, I guess this is a big deal or something — Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder began his opening statement by pledging his service would be “fair, just and independent.”
To that end, Holder stressed his service will be More…
