Eric Holder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Holder
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Official portrait, 2009
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| 82nd United States Attorney General | |
| In office February 3, 2009 – April 27, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | David W. Ogden James M. Cole Sally Yates |
| Preceded by | Michael Mukasey |
| Succeeded by | Loretta Lynch |
| Acting January 20, 2001 – February 2, 2001 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Janet Reno |
| Succeeded by | John Ashcroft |
| 29th United States Deputy Attorney General | |
| In office June 13, 1997 – February 2, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Jamie Gorelick |
| Succeeded by | Larry Thompson |
| United States Attorney for the District of Columbia | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – June 13, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | John Ramsey Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Mary Lou Leary |
| Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia | |
| In office 1988–1993 |
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| Nominated by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Virginia Riley |
| Succeeded by | Judith Bartnoff |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eric Himpton Holder Jr.
January 21, 1951 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Sharon Malone
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Columbia University (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Eric Himpton Holder Jr. (born January 21, 1951) is an American lawyer. He served as the 82nd United States Attorney General from 2009 to 2015. He was the first African American to hold this important position.
Born in New York City, Eric Holder went to Columbia College and Columbia Law School. After law school, he worked for the U.S. Department of Justice. He later became a judge and then a U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. President Bill Clinton then appointed him as the United States Deputy Attorney General.
Eric Holder worked on cases involving government corruption. He was a key advisor to Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign. Obama later chose him to be the Attorney General. After leaving this role in 2015, Holder returned to private law practice. He also works on efforts to change how voting districts are drawn.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eric Himpton Holder Jr. was born in The Bronx, New York. His parents came from Barbados. His father, Eric Himpton Holder Sr., became a real estate broker. His mother, Miriam, was born in New Jersey. Her parents were also from Barbados.
Holder grew up in East Elmhurst, Queens. He went to public school until age 10. He was chosen for a special program for gifted Black students in the 4th grade.
In 1969, he finished Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. He then went to Columbia University. There, he played basketball and football. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American history in 1973. Holder then got his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1976.
While at Columbia in 1969, Holder joined other students in a protest. They took over the Reserve Officers' Training Corps office. They renamed it the Malcolm X student center.
Legal Career and Public Service
After law school, Eric Holder joined the U.S. Justice Department in 1976. He worked in the Public Integrity Section until 1988. He helped prosecute a Democratic Congressman for bribery.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Holder as a judge. He served on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton chose Holder to be the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. He was the first Black American to hold this position. He oversaw a corruption case against Congressman Dan Rostenkowski. Holder served as U.S. Attorney until 1997.
Deputy Attorney General Role
In 1997, President Clinton nominated Holder to be the United States Deputy Attorney General. The Senate approved him unanimously. He was the first African American to serve in this role.
As Deputy Attorney General, Holder managed the department's budget and staff. He also helped resolve disagreements among department leaders. He briefed reporters on national security issues and major investigations. This included an FBI investigation into bribery claims for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Holder also supported new hate crimes laws in the United States. He believed current laws made it hard for federal investigators to help in these cases.
Holder briefly served as Acting Attorney General under President George W. Bush. This was until Bush's choice, John Ashcroft, was confirmed.
Private Law Practice
From 2001 until 2009, Holder worked at a law firm called Covington & Burling. He represented large companies like Merck and the National Football League. He represented the NFL during its investigation into Michael Vick's dog fighting case.
In 2004, Holder helped a company called Chiquita Brands International. They had paid money to a group on the U.S. government's list of foreign terrorist organizations. Chiquita pleaded guilty and paid a fine.
In late 2007, Holder joined then-Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He was a senior legal advisor. He also helped choose Obama's vice presidential candidate.
Becoming Attorney General
On December 1, 2008, President-elect Obama announced that Eric Holder would be his choice for Attorney General. Obama praised Holder's "toughness and independence." Holder said that national security would be a top priority.
He was formally nominated on January 20, 2009. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved him with a strong vote. On February 2, 2009, the full Senate confirmed him by a vote of 75 to 21. He became the first African-American Attorney General. He officially started his job on February 3, 2009.
Time as Attorney General
Fighting Terrorism
As Attorney General, Holder supported the government's actions against terrorism. He defended the legality of drone strikes against suspected terrorists. He said that using force against a terrorist leader who poses an immediate threat is lawful.
Holder also moved many terrorism cases to regular federal courts. Under his leadership, the Justice Department successfully prosecuted many terrorists. They secured convictions and life sentences for people like Osama bin Laden's spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith. Others, like the attempted Times Square bomber, pleaded guilty.
In 2009, Holder announced that those involved in the September 11 attacks would be tried in New York City. However, Congress made it difficult to transfer these prisoners. So, the plan for a federal trial was changed to military commissions.
Holder also worked with other countries to fight terrorism. In 2010, he met with African leaders in Uganda. He promised U.S. support for peacekeeping in Somalia. He also said the FBI would help investigate terrorist bombings in Kampala.
In 2014, Holder spoke in Oslo, Norway. He called for international teamwork against terrorism in Syria and Iraq. He urged nations to share information and stop people from becoming radicalized.
Protecting Civil Rights
Voting Rights and Fair Districts
Holder strongly supported the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law helps protect the right to vote for all Americans. He criticized new voter ID laws in some states. He suggested these laws might make it harder for older people, students, and minorities to vote.
He also criticized how some states drew new voting districts. He argued that these new maps sometimes reduced the political power of minority communities. Holder promised that the Justice Department would fight these laws "aggressively."
In 2012, Holder said that some voter ID laws were like "poll taxes." He compared them to unfair practices from the Jim Crow era.
Arizona Immigration Law
In 2010, Holder expressed concerns about a new immigration law in Arizona. He worried it could lead to racial profiling. After reviewing the law, the Justice Department sued Arizona. Holder said the state law went against federal law.
The U.S. Supreme Court later struck down most parts of the Arizona law. Holder was pleased with this decision. He continued to monitor the law's impact. He also stated that he supports a complete reform of immigration laws. He believes it is a matter of civil and human rights.
Other Actions as Attorney General
In 2009, Holder announced $1 billion in grants for law enforcement agencies. This money helped hire police officers across the country.
In December 2010, after secret government documents were leaked, Holder said the Justice Department was investigating. He stated that anyone who broke American law would be held responsible.
In 2014, Holder introduced a new policy. It banned federal law enforcement agencies from profiling people based on religion, gender, national origin, or gender identity. However, this policy did not apply to airport screenings or intelligence operations.
Views on Racism
In February 2009, Holder gave a speech about racism. He said that Americans often avoid talking about race. He called the U.S. "a nation of cowards" when it came to discussing racial issues openly. This speech caused some debate. President Obama later said that different language might have been used. But he agreed that Americans often avoid talking about race until there is a conflict.
New Black Panther Party Incident
In 2009, the Justice Department handled a case against the New Black Panther Party. Two members had stood outside a polling place in military-style uniforms during the 2008 election. One carried a nightstick. The Justice Department dropped charges against most of the group. They successfully got a court order against one member.
Holder argued that this incident was not like the severe voter intimidation seen in the 1960s. He said comparing them would disrespect those who risked their lives for voting rights. Critics said this showed Holder had a racial bias. Democrats argued the issue was made political.
Contempt of Congress Vote
In 2012, Eric Holder became the first U.S. Attorney General to be held in Contempt of Congress. This happened during an investigation into a program called Operation Fast and Furious. Republicans in Congress wanted more documents about the program. Holder's office said the vote was a "political tactic."
President Obama used "executive privilege" to keep some documents private. Despite this, the House of Representatives voted to hold Holder in contempt. Holder called the vote a "misguided and politically motivated investigation."
Later, the Justice Department's own inspector general reviewed the case. The report found "no evidence" that Holder knew about the operation before early 2011.
Resignation from Office
Holder announced his resignation on September 25, 2014. He said he was leaving for personal reasons. He stayed in office until Loretta Lynch was confirmed as his replacement.
After Attorney General
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In July 2015, Holder rejoined his old law firm, Covington & Burling. He had worked there before becoming Attorney General.
In 2016, he was hired by a company called MTN Group. He helped them deal with a large fine from the Nigerian government. He worked with Nigeria's Attorney General to reduce the fine.
In October 2016, Holder announced he would lead the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. This group works to support Democratic candidates in state races. Their goal is to influence how voting districts are drawn after the 2020 census.
In 2018, Holder hinted he might run for president in 2020. However, in March 2019, he announced he would not seek the White House. He said he would continue his work with the redistricting committee.
In July 2024, after Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Eric Holder and his law firm were hired. They helped check the backgrounds of possible vice presidential candidates for Kamala Harris.
Personal Life
Eric Holder is married to Sharon Malone. She is an obstetrician and author. They have three children. Sharon's sister, Vivian Malone Jones, was famous for helping integrate the University of Alabama.
Holder has been involved in mentoring programs for young people in cities. He is also a big basketball fan. His uncle, Jeff Malone, was a former NBA All-Star. Holder and his wife live in Washington, D.C..
Awards and Recognition
In May 2008, Legal Times magazine named Holder one of the "Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Past 30 Years." The National Law Journal also named him one of "the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America."
In May 2010, Holder gave the graduation speech at Boston University. He received an honorary law degree. He also gave commencement speeches at other law schools, including University of Virginia School of Law and Harvard Law School.
In May 2009, the government of Barbados renamed a municipal building after Holder. It is now called the Eric Holder Jr. Municipal Complex. This center houses a court, police station, and library.
In 2012, Holder received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In August 2012, the National Urban League gave him their "Living Legend" award.
Images for kids
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Eric Holder's signature
