Pelosi Statement on Resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued this statement following the announcement that Attorney General Eric Holder will step down:

"As the 82nd Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder worked each and every day throughout his 26 years at the Department of Justice to ensure that in America, ‘equal justice under law' is not a privilege for the few, but a right that belongs to all.

"Attorney General Holder has been a true blessing to our nation. On the most pressing challenges facing our country – protecting voting rights, combating terrorism, addressing sentencing disparities, reducing the federal prison population, ending the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act – Eric Holder led with integrity and served with dignity. Attorney General Holder's leadership throughout the events in Ferguson, Missouri honored the finest traditions of our nation's unending pursuit of a more perfect union. The nation's first African American attorney general poured himself into the cause of full equality for all citizens, acting without delay to investigate and prosecute hate crimes against LGBT Americans and to ensure equal protection for Americans in same-sex marriages.

"As Attorney General, Eric Holder has been a dedicated stalwart for civil rights, protecting our homeland and pursuing justice. His keen legal mind and dedication to making progress, especially in the face of monumental challenges, are exceptional. We are grateful for his six years of undaunted leadership and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

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