Loretta Lynch has officially been approved by the Senate as attorney general. Unfortunately, it’s been an “embarrassing” and elongated confirmation delay, probably one of the most trivial in the nation’s history.
According to the New York Times, “Ms. Lynch, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, was confirmed 56 to 43, with 10 Republicans voting for her.”
The support for Ms. Lynch was inevitable, being that she was in favor to replace former Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., but with the back and forth going on between Republicans, it stifled the process of moving forward with life. It was never about Ms. Lynch personally, but her support for President Obama’s executive actions on immigration was triggering to those in opposition. Conservative groups took to the extreme to try and block voting for Ms. Lynch altogether. “We do not have to confirm someone to the highest law enforcement position in America if that someone has committed to denigrating Congress,” said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama. “We don’t need to be apologetic about it, colleagues.”
Thus, a heavy delay on her confirmation. Politics as usual.
A surprise reached the masses of those in Senate; many colleagues were voting for Ms. Lynch despite the forces against her. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, took to her defense earlier today. “She is a historic nominee, but also Senate Republicans are making history, and I would say for the wrong reasons,” he said. “I can only hope that Senate Republicans will show her more respect as the attorney general of the United States than they did as a nominee. She has earned this respect. Her story is one of perseverance, of grace and grit.”
Ms. Lynch’s confirmation for attorney general has been given multiple thumbs-up from those in office. Another tally-mark for women (in) em(power)ment.
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