President Obama: 'It's pretty hard to be more qualified' than Loretta Lynch for Attorney General


"It's pretty hard to be more qualified for the job than Loretta," President Barack Obama said today as he officially nominated federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch for U.S. Attorney General.
Obama praised Lynch's 30-year career spent fighting terrorism, financial fraud, and cyber crime, all while defending civil rights. He added that despite her serious approach to the job, "she might be the only lawyer in America who still has a reputation for being a charming people person."
Lynch, 55, is currently the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become the first African-American woman to serve as Attorney General.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The Department of Justice is the only cabinet department named for an ideal," Lynch said. "This is actually appropriate, because our work is both aspirational, and grounded in gritty reality."
Lynch credited outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder for his friendship and support, saying that "no one gets to this place, this room, this podium by themselves."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
-
September 8 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Donald Trump booed at the U.S. Open, a hidden message in the Epstein Files and a new bird in Florida
-
How to see more of The Week's stories on Google
How to Add The Week as a preferred source to get more of our award-winning coverage
-
Pope Leo canonizes first millennial saint
Speed Read Two young Italians, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, were elevated to sainthood
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US