Eric Holder Tapped For Attorney General

Word leaked today that Barack Obama has selected Eric Holder as his Attorney General.

If the appointment is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Holder would be the first African-American to head up the U.S. Justice Department. Officials say Mr. Obama's aides have been talking with senators to determine whether they would support the selection. At issue is Holder's involvement in the controversial 2001 pardon of a fugitive financier, Marc Rich, by the Clinton presidency. At the time, Holder said he was neutral and leaning towards favoring the pardon.

Officials say the former deputy attorney general is anxious to reform the Justice Department's reputation, after controversies surrounding its hiring practices and anti-terror regulations. Holder helped investigate candidates to become Mr. Obama's vice presidential running mate. He is a former judge and is a private practice attorney in Washington.

Holder became Bill Clinton's Deputy Attorney General in 1997 when Jamie Gorelick retired. It will be interesting to see how many former Clintonites make it back to power under Obama.