Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Jan. 29, 2014, file photo.NASHVILLE - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's planned exit from office has two delighted Southeast Tennessee Republican congressmen almost giddy, but a Democratic lawmaker from Memphis is hailing Holder, the first black to become the federal government's top lawyer, for his work on civil rights and criminal justice reform.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., who has supported legislation calling for Holder's impeachment, said Thursday Holder's "departure from the Justice Department cannot come soon enough."
"Throughout his tenure as our nation's chief law enforcement officer, he has consistently shown a wanton disregard for the very laws he is charged to uphold," DesJarlais, of South Pittsburg, said in a statement.
Ditto for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., who charged that "during his nearly six year tenure, Eric Holder vastly overstepped his bounds as Attorney General. From 'Fast and Furious' to his handling of the IRS targeting scandal, Holder abused the power of his office."
"It is my sincere hope that Holder's successor will have a greater commitment to the rule of law," the Chattanooga congressman said.
Holder announced he would resign when a replacement nominated by President Barack Obama is confirmed by the Senate. A close ally of Obama, Holder has been a prominent liberal voice in the administration. But his nearly six-year tenure has proved a lightening rod and provoked a series of fights on several issues with congressional Republicans.
In contrast, U.S. Rep. Steven Cohen, D-Tenn., said Holder has "served our nation well."
"I enjoyed working closely with him on several issues of justice, and I commend him for his herculean efforts to strengthen and protect voting rights and civil rights, as well as for his work on many other important justice issues including reforming our nation's outdated drug laws," Cohen said.
DesJarlais said in his view, Holder has "the unfortunate honor of being the first attorney general to ever be held in contempt of Congress. He has refused to comply with a congressional subpoena requiring him to turn over documents relating to the gun trafficking scandal known as Fast and Furious and perjured himself while testifying before Congress."
Cohen, who noted he has spoken with Holder about what the congressman considers as discriminatory federal sentencing laws, thinks the attorney general should do more on that front before leaving office.
"In his remaining time at the Justice Department, I hope the Attorney General encourages President Obama to expand the use of commutations which are just based on the Fair Sentencing Act," said Cohen, who charged the act "brought racially-biased federal sentences for certain drug offenses."
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.