Politics
As Loretta Lynch’s Wait for Attorney General Comes to an End, Who Is She?
President Barack Obama listens at right as US Attorney Loretta Lynch speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, where the president announced he would nominate Lynch to replace Attorney General Eric Holder. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
(NBC News) – Loretta Lynch, the federal prosecutor President Barack Obama tapped as his pick to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, will finally get a Senate vote on Thursday. If confirmed, Lynch would be the first African American woman to hold the nation’s top law enforcement post.
The vote comes more than 50 days after the president chose her to succeed Holder — longer than the past seven attorneys general. And the president was none too pleased about the delay, calling it “embarrassing” on Friday.
Lynch’s confirmation was tied up in a protracted congressional fight over a human trafficking bill which contained abortion funding language Democrats opposed as restrictive.
Lynch’s confirmation seems all but assured: with the support of 46 Democrats and five Republicans she should have the votes she needs to be confirmed.
Here are five facts about the next likely attorney general:
