Civil and Human Rights Coalition Responds to Long Overdue Confirmation of Loretta Lynch, Applauds Legacy of Eric Holder

WASHINGTON –– Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Loretta Lynch for Attorney General. The announcement comes more than 165 days after Lynch was nominated—longer than the last seven Attorney General nominees combined:

“After more than 165 days and countless meetings, marches, prayer vigils, press conferences, and hunger strikes, we’re pleased that the Senate finally did the right thing by confirming Loretta Lynch to be our next Attorney General.

Attorney General Lynch made history today on two fronts: as the first African-American woman to be our nation’s top law enforcement official and as the first Attorney General nominee in history required to overcome a cloture vote to be confirmed. Lynch faced this unprecedented obstruction not because of her fitness for office, but because her nomination was inappropriately used in a proxy war against the President and his policies.

While we applaud those senators who chose to judge Lynch on her merits to be Attorney General, congressional Republicans have a long way to go in proving that they can provide the necessary leadership to govern.

Lynch’s confirmation has also secured the continued legacy of fair and responsible leadership at the Justice Department by Eric Holder. Her indisputable qualifications, character, integrity, and tenacity in the face of obstruction assure us she will serve the nation with distinction.

Eric Holder has presided over one of the most forward-thinking and visionary Justice Departments in memory. His tenure will be remembered as one of the most successful in modern American history and is even more remarkable considering that his leadership was subjected to unprecedented politicization by House Republicans.

Attorney General Lynch has what it takes to serve our nation with distinction. We applaud her long overdue confirmation and urge congressional Republicans to stop politicizing the important work of the Department of Justice.”

Wade Henderson is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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