Eric Holder set to be US's first Black Attorney General

Washington, Nov.19 : Former US President Bill Clinton's Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder is likely to take over as the country's next Attorney General under the Barack Obama administration.

According to a Fox News report, Washington attorney Eric Holder would first have to go through a Senate confirmation, and officials close to process of selection are said to be sending feelers around the Senate to see if Holder passes muster.

"It is basically done. There's some paperwork that they need to complete and some other things they want to vet a bit more, like the Marc Rich pardon during the Clinton administration. But unless something changes, I get the impression it's done," an Obama aide told FOX News.

Marc Rich was the fugitive billionaire who was given a pardon by Clinton on his final day in office. Rich's estranged wife, Denise Rich, was a high-paying donor to Clinton. On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had spent years running from tax charges. Holder said he was "neutral, leaning towards favorable" on the pardon.

Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.

An Obama official and two Democrats in touch with the transition team confirmed that Holder is Obama's top choice, but the decision has not been finalized.

CBS News reported Tuesday that Holder has accepted the job offer from Obama, but has not returned messages seeking comment.

If he is nominated and confirmed, Holder would be the nation's first black attorney general.

ANI