Cohen Disses Holder

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, an old-school liberal, doesn’t think Eric Holder should be Attorney General because of Holder’s acquiescence in then-fugitive financier Marc Rich’s pardon. In today’s column, Cohen makes out the case against Holder about as well as anyone can. Holder, as President Clinton’s Deputy Attorney General, was “neutral, leaning towards favorable” when asked to weigh in on whether Rich should receive a pardon. Holder’s non-opposition gave the Clinton Administration cover for the outrageous pardon of a filthy-rich indictee who had fled the country to avoid prosecution. Holder also neglected to inform the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which originally brought the case against Rich, that a pardon was in the works. That office was rightfully furious when it learned of the done deal.

Okay. It was a big mistake. And some of Holder’s justifications over the years for his non-opposition to the Rich pardon have been absurd. And, yes, I know, we have recently sufferred through an Attorney General who was way too much of a yes man for the White House and who sullied the supposedly glorious reputation of the Department of Justice. But it is the President’s choice, and barring a morals charge or a major felony in the nominee’s background, President Obama should get who he wants at Mother Justice, assuming that the nominee is otherwise qualified. Holder passes this test.