Obama names first African-American attorney general: report RAW STORY

Published: Tuesday November 18, 2008





Print This Email This President-elect Barack Obama plans to tap longtime lawyer Eric Holder to be attorney general, which would making him the first African-American ever in the post, according to several reports Tuesday.



Holder, who served as deputy attorney general under former president Bill Clinton, will head the Justice Department, reported Newsweek magazine's Michael Isikoff, citing legal sources close to the presidential transition.



Obama's transition team did not immediately comment on the report.



"Obama offered Holder the job and he accepted," the magazine said on its website, adding that "the announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State departments."



Holder was co-chief along with Caroline Kennedy of Obama's vice-presidential selection process and, like Obama, is a fellow alumnus of Columbia University in New York.



The Associated Press followed with a report that Obama was asking senators whether Holder would be confirmed if nominated.



The Washington Post said it was "almost certain" that Holder would be nominated.



An official with the Obama transition team told the New York Times that the initial Newsweek report was "wrong" and that "no decision has been made" regarding Holder's nomination.





With wire reports



