Obama blasts Senate Republicans: 'You don't hold attorney general nominees hostage'

Barack Obama
(Image credit: (Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images))

President Barack Obama voiced his frustration with Senate Republicans in a Friday interview with The Huffington Post, speaking specifically to their holding up the confirmation of his attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch.

"You don't hold attorney general nominees hostage for other issues," he said. "This is our top law enforcement office. Nobody denies that she's well-qualified. We need to go ahead and get her done."

Lynch's nomination has been on hold for more than four months; this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Lynch won't be confirmed unless human-trafficking legislation passes, but that bill includes anti-abortion language to which Senate Democrats object.

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"The irony is, of course, that the Republicans really dislike (outgoing Attorney General Eric) Holder," Obama noted. "If they really want to get rid of him, the best way to do it is to go ahead and get Loretta Lynch confirmed."

Read the rest of the interview, via The Huffington Post.

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Sarah Eberspacher

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.