Summary: As President Barack Obama formally announced the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday, he declined to name any possible successors.
When President Barack Obama formally announced the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder, he declined to provide any hints as to who would replace him, according to Fox News.
Holder has held the job for six years and said that he will remain in the position until a successor is named.
Some names that have begun to swirl as possible replacements include Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and California Attorney General Kamala Harris.
Harris released the following statement after her name surfaced in rumors: “I am honored to even be mentioned, but intend to continue my work for the people of California as Attorney General. I am focused on key public safety issues including transnational gangs, truancy and recidivism.”
Patrick worked in the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton and his name has been in talks since 2012 as a possible successor. Patrick is in the midst of serving his second and final term as the Massachusetts governor.
Presidential historian and associate professor of social science at Boston University, Tom Whalen, said, “Attorney generals tend to be consigliere, people who defend the president’s interests first. That is why the president usually picks someone who is a close friend who is beyond doubt loyal to him or her. Deval Patrick fits that to a T.”
Patrick also released a statement about the position, saying, “First of all I want to say of Eric Holder that he has distinguished himself and the role of the attorney general, as attorney general, and I thank him for his service to the administration and his service to the nation. That’s an enormously important job but it’s not one for me right now.”
Some other names that could surface in the coming months include Deputy Attorney General James Cole; U.S. Attorney in Manhattan Preet Bharara; Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler.
Verrilli has been the center of the speculation ever since Holder announced his resignation. Verrilli is the top representative to the Supreme Court from the Obama administration.