Evidently, Holder’s decision to resign was not a product of pressure from the White House, but ultimately his own choice. Sources say the White House would’ve been happy to keep him until the end of President Obama’s second term.
A native of New York City, Holder was also the first African-American to be appointed as deputy attorney general by President Bill Clinton.
He’s had a storied career, making huge strides on civil rights issues, particularly. His time as attorney general has not been entirely smooth, however, largely as a consequence of a contentious relationship with republicans in Congress.
Holder has been a voice of reason on issues such as marijuana and the War on Drugs, as well as a champion of same-sex marriage. Moreover, he has fought vigorously against voter suppression, and launched 20 investigations into abuse by local police departments.
Throughout his tenure, Holder has been a fervent advocate for the rights of minorities and there are likely many people out there upset by his decision to step down.
Even though Holder is planning on leaving, he will likely still push on several policy and enforcement initiatives before he walks out the door.
He has not yet signaled what he plans to do after he resigns, but some believe he may return to the corporate law firm Covington and Burling.
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