Senators weigh Loretta Lynch’s nomination for attorney general for a second day at a hearing certain to pile criticism on President Barack Obama and Eric Holder, the current occupant of the job.
Thursday’s hearing brings a roster of outside witnesses to the Senate Judiciary Committee, including several invited by Republicans to showcase opposition to Obama’s use of executive powers. It follows a cordial daylong appearance by Lynch that moved her closer to expected confirmation as she pledged independence from President Barack Obama and promised to work with the Republican-led Congress.
Lynch offered support Wednesday for some controversial Obama administration policies, including the president’s unilateral protections for millions of immigrants in the country illegally.
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Lynch, whose office in New York is leading a civil rights investigation into the police chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island last summer, was also careful to express solidarity with law enforcement at a time when racially charged incidents of police force have stirred community concerns of bias.
Witnesses on Thursday are to include Janice Fedarcyk, the former head of the FBI’s New York field office, and David Barlow, a former U.S. Attorney from Utah.
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