The White House made a pitch Friday for the Senate to confirm a replacement for Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. quickly, even though President Obama hasn’t yet nominated a candidate.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest pointed to the Senate confirmation of Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a lame-duck session of Congress in December 2006, after the midterm election resulted in Democrats preparing to take control of the chamber.
“There is a precedent for presidents making important cabinet nominations and counting on Congress to confirm them promptly, even in the context of a lame-duck session,” Mr. Earnest said.
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Mr. Holder announced Thursday that he will leave the post he has held for nearly six years. He said he’ll wait until the Senate confirms a new attorney general before he steps down.
All that’s needed is for Mr. Obama to nominate a replacement; Mr. Earnest said there is no timetable for an announcement.
“The president will obviously consider a range of candidates,” he said.
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