Arlen Specter Vows Scrutiny for AG Pick Eric Holder

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said yesterday that the role of President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for Attorney General in several Clinton Administration controversies, "will be an issue," in the confirmation hearings. As a Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Justice Department, Holder played a substantial role in helping to secure a presidential pardon for Marc Rich. Rich was a fugitive from justice after being convicted of tax evasion. At the time of his pardon, Rich had renounced his American citizenship and was living in Switzerland, where be remained after President Clinton absolved him of guilt.

Specter said that he did not anticipate Holder's confirmation being held up, but he did indicate that his confirmation hearings would be something less than a smooth ride.

"We're going to take a very, very close look at his record with focus on the Marc Rich pardon where there had been very, very large contributions.

Rich was a fugitive. They did not follow regular order. And we'll want to know, in some detail, as to what Mr Holder had to do with that."

Rich's ex-wife, Denise Rich, was a major fundraiser for the Clintons, and there was speculation at the time that Rich's pardon was granted in return for those financial contributions.

The increased size of the Democratic caucus in the Senate means that, barring any stunning revelations, all of President-elect Obama's choices for his cabinet will be approved by the full Senate. The confirmation hearings are where Republicans will get their best opportunity to examine, and perhaps trip up, one or more of his nominees. Specter is not normally considered a partisan actor. The fact that he is signalling a somewhat rough go for Holder could indicate that other Republican Senators have greater plans for opposing some of Obama's nominees.