Loretta Lynch. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
The Senate will vote on the long-delayed nomination of Loretta Lynch to serve as the next leader of the Department of Justice after Republican and Democratic leaders ended a dispute over unrelated matters. The vote on Lynch, a federal prosecutor in New York, could come as early as Thursday. If she is confirmed, she would be the first African American woman to serve as attorney general. The nomination was tied up amid partisan bickering over S.178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. The bipartisan bill creates a new fund to help law enforcement combat trafficking and to assist victims of trafficking. But the measure failed to advance when Democrats objected to a provision that prevents the fund from being used for abortion services. Republicans -- some of whom were already blocking Lynch over objections to immigration policy set by President Barack Obama -- were refusing to budge. A compromise would maintain the government's policy regarding abortion services, otherwise known as the Hyde Amendment. However, victims could still receive assistance in certain cases due to the way the new fund will be structured. As for immigration, the issue will not be brought up in amendments to the bill, which is set for a final vote today. It's not clear, though, whether some Indian Country specific amendments will make it into the package.
Attorney General Eric Holder speaks at the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota, in June 2014. Photo from KXMB / Twitter
Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder announced his departure in September 2014. His tenure marked a dramatic shift in the federal-Indian relationship that started with the settling of the $3.4 billion Cobell trust fund lawsuit and continued with dozens of tribal trust fund settlements whose dollar value has topped $2.6 billion. Holder and his U.S. Attorneys championed the recognition of tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians in the Violence Against Women Act of 2013. The historic provision became effective nationwide in April after a successful pilot run on three reservations. DOJ took a more active stand in Indian Child Welfare Act cases and Indian voting rights cases under Holder. The administration also advanced the Tribal Law and Order Act in 2010 to improve justice systems in Indian Country. Get the Story:
Eyeing big work ahead, senators cut deal on Loretta Lynch confirmation (The Washington Post 4/22)
Senate, Clearing Hurdle, Sets a Thursday Vote on Loretta Lynch (The New York Times 4/22)
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