Holder’s Harshest Senate Critic Says He Will Vote for Confirmation

The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says that despite his initial doubts, he will support Eric Holder for attorney general.

Sen. Arlen Specter said he decided to support Holder because of his good record and support within the law enforcement community, Legal Times reports. The Wall Street Journal describes Specter as Holder’s toughest critic and says his backing virtually assures that the nominee will be approved by the Judiciary Committee in a vote today.

Specter had questioned Holder’s role in the pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. Republicans also feared that he would prosecute officials involved in harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects.

Specter says he discussed the possibility of interrogation prosecutions in a meeting with Holder last Thursday, according to the Legal Times story. "I got a satisfactory answer,” Specter said.