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Obama to pick Loretta Lynch as attorney general

President Obama is said to have decided to nominate U.S. Attorney for Eastern New York Loretta Lynch as his next attorney general.

By Gabrielle Levy

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Loretta Lynch, the U.S. attorney in eastern New York, will be President Obama's pick to replace Eric Holder as attorney general, edging out several higher-profile candidates for the job.

Lynch, who was first appointed by President Clinton in 2000 and again by Obama in 2010, would be the second woman, and first African-American woman to hold the job.

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Officials close to the process told the New York Times and CNN the announcement could come soon, although the president's trip to Asia this weekend could complicate the timing. They spoke on condition of anonymity as the nomination is not official until it is formally announced by the White House.

In 2010, she was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote, meaning her nomination was uncontroversial. She is known for her successful prosecution in 1997 of a white police officer who sodomized Haitian immigrant Abner Louima with a broken broomstick, a case that became the symbol of police brutality.

In her role as U.S. attorney, she oversees cases in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island, including many terrorism cases that have given her experience dealing with matters of national security. She also chairs the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, a group of U.S. Attorneys who advice the attorney general.

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The Obama administration, seeking to reposition itself after broad losses for Democrats in Tuesday's elections, passed over several other candidates who would come with significantly more baggage.

Former White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler withdrew from consideration last month, saying she wished to avoid a bitter confirmation process in a highly partisan environment. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, a popular choice of progressives, faced tough opposition from Republicans in his first confirmation and certainly would again.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, the administration's top lawyer, was an early frontrunner for the job, but his role in defending some of the administration's policies would likely be a drag on his nomination.

Additionally, choosing either Perez or Verrilli would necessitate yet another messy confirmation process to replace him, with little time left in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Holder announced his plans to step down in September, but said he would stay on until his successor was confirmed.

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