Will Eric Holder Fulfill His Promise?

From the Washington Times:

Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, a Republican from Missouri and the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in an interview with The Washington Times that he will support Eric H. Holder Jr.'s nomination for Attorney General because Mr. Holder assured him privately that Mr. Obama's Justice Department will not prosecute former Bush officials involved in the interrogations program.

Mr. Holder's promise apparently was key to moving his nomination forward. Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to favorably recommend Holder for the post. He is likely to be confirmed by the Senate soon.

Sen. Bond also said that Mr. Holder told him in a private meeting Tuesday that he will not strip the telecommunications companies that cooperated with the National Security Agency after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks of retroactive legal immunity from civil lawsuits--removing another potential sticking point among GOP senators. ...

The legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union, Caroline Fredrickson, said Wednesday that she was alarmed by Mr. Bond's statements.. and added, we are hoping there will be a clarification. It would be extraordinary if our top prosecutor, before taking office, would have predetermined whether or not to pursue certain cases because of political pressure.

Excuse me Ms. Fredrickson, but it is also alarming that a potential Attorney General of the United States once played a key role in commuting the sentences of FALN terrorists and that he chose to enrich himself by accepting fees from Chiquita CEO's, admitted paymasters for terrorist death squads.

Ultimately, Mr. Holder will now have an opportunity to redeem himself and atone for his support of terrorism by agreeing not to prosecute those who tried to protect this country from the terrorists he once backed.

And yes, while it's true that this may have been one of those crooked backroom deals, nevertheless, it's officially on record now: Mr. Holder has promised not to prosecute former Bush officials, and we will hold him to the fire on this one - all crookedness aside.