After 5-Month Delay, Senate Confirms Loretta Lynch For Attorney General

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

Another matter that's been churning through Congress has been the nomination of Loretta Lynch. Five months after being nominated for attorney general by President Obama, Lynch was confirmed by the Senate yesterday and could be sworn in as early as Monday. NPR's Juana Summers reports that the long delay was largely due to politics.

JUANA SUMMERS, BYLINE: Republicans have long been ready for a replacement for Attorney General Eric Holder. But in President Obama's pick, Loretta Lynch, they didn't quite like what they got. Some Republicans said they couldn't back Lynch because she supported President Obama's executive actions on immigration. Others questioned whether she would operate independently of the White House. Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions urged fellow Republicans to vote no.

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SENATOR JEFF SESSIONS: We do not have to confirm someone to the highest law enforcement position in America if that someone is publicly committed to denigrating Congress, violating law of Congress, violating even wishes of Congress.

SUMMERS: Most recently, Senate Republicans led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote on Lynch until the Senate voted on an unrelated human trafficking bill. That process dragged on for weeks, as lawmakers fought over antiabortion language in the measure. Even with that roadblock gone, most Republicans continued to oppose Lynch. One was Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who is running for president. He was the only senator who didn't vote on Lynch's nomination, citing a scheduling conflict. But he was clearly looking ahead to 2016.

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SENATOR TED CRUZ: There are more than a few voters back home that are asking, what exactly is the difference between a Democratic and Republican majority when the exact same individual gets confirmed as attorney general, promising the exact same lawlessness?

SUMMERS: But in the end, several Republicans, including Majority Leader McConnell, voted for Lynch. Democrats, including leader Harry Reid, slammed the long road to confirmation while defending Lynch's accomplishments.

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SENATOR HARRY REID: She's as qualified a candidate as I've ever seen during my time in the Senate, which is more than three decades.

SUMMERS: President Obama said American will better off with Lynch as the attorney general. Lynch is the first black woman to head the Justice Department. Juana Summers, NPR News, the Capitol. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.