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Eric Holder on Crime
Attorney General-Designee
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Charged General David Petraeus with misdemeanor, not felony
The misdemeanor charge General David Petraeus received for mishandling classified material was reasonable and consistent with past cases, but I argued strongly to Attorney General Holder that Petraeus also should be charged with a felony for lying to
the Bureau. Replaying in my mind that Martha Stewart, Leonidas Young, and Scooter Libby cases, I argued that that if we weren't going to hold retired generals and CIA directors accountable for blatantly lying during investigations,
how could we justify jailing thousands of others for doing the same thing? I believed, and still believe, that Petraeus was treated under a double standard based on class.
A poor person, an unknown person--say a young black Baptist Minister from Richmond--would be charged with a felony and sent to jail.
Source: A Higher Loyalty, p.164, by James Comey
, Apr 17, 2018
Oppose death penalty, but ok against Boston marathon bomber
Attorney General Eric Holder, who is personally opposed to the death penalty, is seeking it against the so-called Marathon bomber because of the targeting of an iconic event; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's lack of remorse; and the age of one of the victims,
8-year-old Martin Richard. In response, Massachusetts Democrats, who also personally oppose the death penalty, straggled into line behind him.There's a posturing aspect of Holder's decision.
Since 1988, there have only been three executions for federal claims, despite the government asking for the death penalty in nearly 800 cases.
Seeking the death penalty also increases the government's leverage to get the defense team to agree to a guilty verdict in return for life without parole.
Source: Joan Vennochi OpEd in Boston Globe
, Jan 31, 2014
Concerned that so many young black men are prosecuted
As Superior Court judge for the District of Columbia, Holder became painfully aware that most of the defendants in his courtroom were “young black guys, 18 to 25.” He said to the Washington Post: “It’s not an
easy thing to deal with, if you are a person who’s concerned about the black community, to see what ought to be the future standing before you charged with some sort of criminal offense.”
Source: Biography on answers.com
, Nov 18, 2008
Declined federal involvement in NYC Diallo shooting
Following the acquittal of the four police officers [who shot Amadou Diallo], the Diallos sought in vain to bring federal civil rights violation charges. There was ample precedent to have done so, [including] the Rodney King case and the Abner
Louima case.In attempting to understand why federal charges were not brought against the police officers in this case, the authors sent a e-mail to Eric Holder, the deputy attorney general in the
Clinton administration, who had announced the Department of Justice's decision not to do so. On July 6, 2005, Judge Holder replied by e-mail, stating, "I suggest you contact the folks who made the initial decision and who are closer to the case--the
prosecutors in Manhattan."
Considering the refusal of the above-mentioned officials to comment on the issue, one can understand Saikou Diallo's frustration at not being able to achieve justice for his late son.
Source: Giuliani: Flawed or Flawless, by D. & G. Strober, p.214-215
, Jan 16, 2007
Page last updated: Sep 28, 2018