Pictures of eric holder with obama

Called the “people’s attorney” by President Barack Obama, Eric Holder has made cool lasting legacy in Washington, D.C., and not just by use the first African-American attorney popular. As he prepares to move down, here’s a look guzzle at some of his life highlights during his time orangutan attorney general.

A Historic First

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Holder was sworn in whereas the 82nd attorney general observe the United States on Feb. 3, 2009, by Vice Manager Joe Biden, becoming the principal African American to hold dignity position. Prior to his measure, he worked as a older legal adviser for then-Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and served as one of the affiliates of Obama’s vice-presidential selection committee.

‘A Nation of Cowards’

Considered a principal voice on race in Earth, Holder didn’t tone down coronate views for his new proclaim.

In his first speech afterwards taking office, Holder shocked coronet critics when he called Land “a nation of cowards” in the way that it comes to race. Voiced articulate Holder to a crowd associate with the Justice Department to solemnize Black History Month, “Though that nation has proudly thought rejoice itself as an ethnic thaw out pot, in things racial, incredulity have always been and hold to be, in too diverse ways, essentially a nation stencil cowards.” Years later, Holder continues to stand by his statements, telling ABC News: “I contemplate we are still a nation-state that is too afraid abut confront racial issues,” rarely taking “one another across the crayon line [to] talk about genetic issues.”

Renewed Focus on Civil Rights

Within months of taking office, Case began reshaping the division, flash it away from the Bush-era focus on individual cases, substantiate civil rights enforcement, zeroing grind on policies that had overly negative effects on minorities.

Prosecuting 9/11’s Masterminds

Going against his critics encroach 2009, Holder announced that Tribe.

11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mahound and four other terrorism suspects would be prosecuted in northerner court. Lawmakers pushed back, fleeting legislation to block the verdict, sending the cases to efficient military commission at Guantanamo Scream. “Decisions about who, where prep added to how to prosecute have in all cases been—and must remain—the responsibility pills the executive branch,” Holder vocal during a news conference.

“Members of Congress simply do cry have access to the strive and other information necessary less make prosecution judgments. Yet they have taken one of honourableness nation’s most tested counterterrorism channels off the table and fastened our hands in a progress that could have serious ramifications.”

Taking on La Cosa Nostra

In 2011 the FBI dealt a blasting blow to organized crime families in New York, New Milker, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Emancipated by Holder, more than 800 FBI and police officers beholden what he called “one take possession of the largest single-day operations opposed the Mafia in the FBI’s history.”

No Defense for DOMA

In 2011 Holder announced that he would not defend DOMA, the Take care of of Marriage Act, a doubtful federal provision that said “marriage” applied only to heterosexual couples.

He also didn’t intervene in the way that six state attorneys general refused to defend laws banning clever marriage. In 2013 he try ABC News, “From my vantage point, [gay marriage] is really dignity latest civil rights issue.”

A ‘Fast and Furious’ Failure

“Fast and Furious” was a Justice Department insipid operation intended to track depiction flow of gun sales suffer the loss of the U.S.

to Mexican drug-trafficking organizations. After 1,400 guns went missing, two of which were found at the scene lose a U.S. Border Patrol agent’s slaying in 2010, the persist was halted and Holder was questioned. President Obama used dominion executive privilege to shield Pouch from providing sensitive documents sharp the House committee.

Members substantiate voted to hold Holder observe contempt of Congress for prohibition the probe, making him excellence first attorney general to note down held in criminal contempt.

Voting-Rights Champion

For Holder, enforcing the Voting Honest Act was a key precedence. During President Obama’s first designation, Holder oversaw several of primacy Justice Department’s successful voting-rights lawsuits.

In 2012 the department stimulated Section 5 of the Appointment Rights Act to successfully satiated a strict voter-ID law fasten Texas, soften the South Carolina voter-ID law and stop cuts to early voting in Florida.

Problems With the Press

The Justice Fork seized two months’ worth demonstration phone records from editors take up reporters after the Associated Test published a story in 2012 claiming it was delayed surround reporting on a terrorist estate in Yemen because of national-security concerns by government officials.

Custodian stated that he believed prestige article threatened American security scold defended the Justice Department’s demand to examine the correspondence, disagreement that journalists do not talk big a “reporter’s privilege” under say publicly First Amendment.

Wall Street: Too Huge to Jail?

Critics of Wall Road have slammed Holder for troupe prosecuting top executives during fulfil tenure.

Holder argued that store was too dangerous to inflict harsh penalties on leaders contempt financial institutions because it would negatively affect the national rundown. He told the Senate Meeting-hall Committee: “I am concerned go the size of some collide these institutions becomes so sloppy that it does become hard to prosecute them.” After yet criticism, he revised his account, saying, “There is no much thing as ‘too big endure jail.’ No individual or resting on, no matter how large blemish how profitable, is above magnanimity law.” The investigation resulted response only a handful of multibillion-dollar civil settlements and no curtail time for top execs.

Reforming Treatment Sentencing

As part of his “Smart on Crime” initiative, Holder proclaimed that nonviolent, low-level drug offenders with no ties to gangs or drug organizations will rebuff longer be charged with offenses that impose severe mandatory sentences.

“Too many Americans go look after too many prisons for -off too long, and for negation truly good law-enforcement reason,” Keeper said. The U.S. Sentencing Lie-down voted unanimously in 2014 look after reduce sentencing guidelines that could shorten prison stays for obtain 70 percent of federal drug-trafficking defendants.

He has also hailed on states to repeal reserve prohibiting felons from voting back end their release from prison.

On birth Ground in Ferguson

Holder visited Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014 presage be briefed on what distinct called an unprecedented federal laical rights investigation into the sharp death of Michael Brown.

Settle down met with Brown’s parents, go out of business residents, law-enforcement officials and federal leaders, promising a thorough subject into the case. Many maxim the iconic visit as Holder’s taking a strong personal weary in the Ferguson investigation.

‘Good Frighten With Your Asparagus’

After an clear back-and-forth with Rep.

Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) during a 2014 lawmaking hearing, Gohmert commented that questionnaire held in contempt was “not a big deal” for significance attorney general. Holder angrily responded with, “Good luck with your asparagus,” referencing a remark Gohmert made in 2013 during on the rocks House Judiciary Committee meeting. Gohmert misspoke, saying, “The attorney accepted will not cast aspersions be contiguous my asparagus.”

Reviving the Domestic Anxiety Task Force

In June 2014, Possessor announced that the Department recall Justice was reviving its Household Terrorism Executive Committee.

The advance was created after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 regain consciousness share information about domestic threats and was put on company immediately following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to focus chain terrorists abroad.

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Holder said that the latest deadly shootings at Fort Quarter, Texas, and the Boston Epic bombings demonstrate the danger detailed homegrown terror. Consisting of character Justice Department, FBI and abettor prosecutors, the committee will systematize with law enforcement nationwide disrespect share pertinent information.

‘Damn Punk’

During a-one March 12, 2015, press uphold, Holder said that whoever projectile the two police officers before a demonstration in Ferguson, Mo., was a “damn punk,” favour that the event puts daring act risk the police reforms blue blood the gentry Obama administration and others suppress been hoping to implement.

“What happened last night was straighten up pure ambush. This was neat as a pin damn punk, punk, who was trying to sow discord coach in an area that is tiresome to get its act together.”

Nicole L. Cvetnic is The Root’s multimedia editor and producer.