Eric Holder tears up announcing resignation: 'I will continue to serve'

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday he would resign from his post once a successor is in place, saying in a tearful press conference he was most proud of his work furthering marriage equality and defending voting rights against attempts to disenfranchise poor and minority citizens.

"I hope I have done honor to the faith you have placed in me, Mr. President," Holder said.

"I will never leave the work," he added. "I will continue to serve and try to make our nation more true to its founding ideals."

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For his part, Obama introduced Holder by saying he had done a "superb job," spotlighting his work "reinvigorating and restoring" the DOJ's civil rights division.

"I just wanted to say thank you, Eric," Obama said. "We could not be more grateful for everything that you've done not just for me and the administration, but for our country."