Senate begins considering AG nominee Lynch
President Obama chose Loretta Lynch, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, New York, as his nominee to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder. VPCAttorney general nominee Loretta Lynch is sworn in at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 28, 2015.(Photo: H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY)WASHINGTON — President Obama's nominee to succeed Attorney General Eric Holder is promising to repair the Justice Department's strained relationship with Congress and confront simmering racial tensions over law enforcement's dealings in minority communities across the country.Loretta Lynch, in remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday , appeared to strike a different tone from Holder, who during his tenure had become a lightning rod for criticism from Republican leaders in Congress."I look forward to fostering a new and improved relationship with this committee, the United States Senate, and the entire United States Congress — a relationship based on mutual respect and constitutional balance,'' Lynch told the committee."Ultimately, I know we all share the same goal and commitment: to protect and serve the American people."Addressing long-standing divisions between police and minority communities, Lynch said she has become deeply troubled by the worsening divide following recent deadly incidents between white officers and black suspects."Few things have pained me more than the recent reports of tension and division between law enforcement and the communities we serve,'' Lynch said in the written remarks. "If confirmed as attorney general, one of my key priorities would be to work to strengthen the vital relationships between our courageous law enforcement personnel and all the communities we serve."In my career, I have seen this relationship flourish — I have seen law enforcement forge unbreakable bonds with community residents and have seen violence-ravaged communities come together to honor officers who risked all to protect them.''Lynch's Brooklyn office is overseeing a federal inquiry into one of the most controversial of the recent incidents, the death of black Staten Island suspect Eric Garner during an encounter with a white officer who applied a chokehold on him.Since her nomination in November, Lynch has received widespread support from law enforcement groups, including an endorsement Tuesday from a coalition of current and former officials, including New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton and former deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick.Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Lynch's nomination comes "at a pivotal time" for the Justice Department, in which he said public confidence "has been shaken."He recited a series of past problems, including a flawed gun trafficking investigation that allowed hundreds of firearms to fall into the hands of Mexican cartel enforcers and Justice's handling of an inquiry into the IRS' alleged targeting of conservative groups."At the end of the day, the common threat that binds all these challenges together is a Department of Justice that is deeply politicized," Grassley said. "But that's what happens when the attorney general of the United States views himself, in his own words, as the president's 'wingman.' "Grassley, however, acknowledged that Lynch had nothing to do with the problems he outlined. He said he would consider whether "Ms. Lynch has what it takes to fix the department.".If confirmed, Lynch would become the first African-American woman to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer.Republicans, though, have signaled their intent to closely question Lynch on a range of hot-button issues, from how minority communities are policed to Obama's executive action that would shield millions of illegal immigrants from deportation.Sen. David Vitter, R-La., a Judiciary panel member, already has said he will oppose Lynch's nomination based on the administration's immigration action."I met with Ms. Lynch earlier this month and didn't get any straight answers from her,'' Vitter said Tuesday. "She needs to be completely forthright with the committee about her support for some of President Obama's most dangerous policies — including executive amnesty."Responding to a question from Grassley, Lynch said that while she was not involved in the consideration of the president's action, she saw "no reason to doubt the reasonableness'' of his position. She suggested that an "appropriate" use of law enforcement resources involved focusing on the removal of illegal immigrants linked to violent crime.Accompanying Lynch to the hearing is her father, Lorenzo Lynch, a fourth-generation Baptist minister from North Carolina, and a brother."As I come before you today in this historic chamber, I still stand on my father's shoulders," Lynch said in her prepared remarks, referring to the occasions when Lynch said her father would carry her during sit-ins and marches in the 1960s. "I believe in the promise of America because I have lived the promise of America.''GoDaddy's 'despicable' puppy ad pulled from Super BowlJan 28, 2015
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