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US Attorney General Eric Holder to resign US Attorney General Eric Holder to resign
(about 2 hours later)
US Attorney General Eric Holder is to announce his resignation, White House officials have confirmed.US Attorney General Eric Holder is to announce his resignation, White House officials have confirmed.
One of the longest serving members of President Obama's cabinet, he led the justice department for six years.One of the longest serving members of President Obama's cabinet, he led the justice department for six years.
Mr Holder is the first black US attorney general and has had the fourth longest stint in the post in history.Mr Holder is the first black US attorney general and has had the fourth longest stint in the post in history.
He recently played a key role in the administration's response to the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police in Ferguson, Missouri.He recently played a key role in the administration's response to the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police in Ferguson, Missouri.
The White House said in a statement that President Barack Obama would make the announcement on Thursday afternoon.The White House said in a statement that President Barack Obama would make the announcement on Thursday afternoon.
"Holder's accomplishments have established a historic legacy of civil rights enforcement and restoring fairness to the criminal justice system."Holder's accomplishments have established a historic legacy of civil rights enforcement and restoring fairness to the criminal justice system.
"Holder revitalised the department's praised Civil Rights Division, protected the rights of the LGBT community, successfully prosecuted terrorists, and fought tirelessly for voting rights, to name a few.""Holder revitalised the department's praised Civil Rights Division, protected the rights of the LGBT community, successfully prosecuted terrorists, and fought tirelessly for voting rights, to name a few."
He plans to remain at the justice department until his successor is in place.He plans to remain at the justice department until his successor is in place.
Among his achievements, some highly controversial, is reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders. Among his achievements, some highly controversial, is reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders and some federal drug offenders.
He also refused to defend a law that defined marriage as between one man and one woman.He also refused to defend a law that defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
And the justice department sued Texas and North Carolina for changes to voting rights that affected minorities.And the justice department sued Texas and North Carolina for changes to voting rights that affected minorities.
But his decision to have the 9/11 accused tried in a New York courthouse near the World Trade Center sparked an outcry from relatives of the bereaved. Mr Holder changed his mind. But his decision to have the 9/11 accused tried in a New York courthouse near the World Trade Center provoked an intense backlash from conservatives who said they should not be afforded the same constitutional rights as ordinary criminals.
He was also embarrassed by Operation Fast and Furious, which saw US agents lose track of hundreds of illegal guns sold in Arizona. In addition, some New York City officials said the security regiment necessary for such trials would throw Manhattan into gridlock. Mr Holder ultimately backtracked.
But an inquiry found no evidence he knew about the controversial tactics. He was also embarrassed by a botched gun trafficking operation called Fast and Furious, in which US agents lost track of hundreds of firearms sold in Arizona they believed were ultimately destined for Mexican drug traffickers.
An internal inquiry found no evidence he knew about the controversial tactics.
But Mr Holder's refusal to hand over justice department documents on the matter to the Republican-led House of Representatives led the chamber to hold him in contempt.