Holder nomination held up in Senate Judiciary Committee (Roundup)

Jan 21, 2009, 21:32 GMT

Washington - President Barack Obama's nomination of Eric Holder for attorney general was delayed Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee amid lingering doubts among the committee's opposition Republicans.

Republicans have said they are looking for follow-up information from Holder on the Obama administration's plans for detainees being held in the war on terrorism.

US military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were halted on Obama's first full day in office Wednesday, a first step by the new president toward closing the detention facility.

During his confirmation hearing last week, Holder faced questions over his role in the controversial pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich by former president Bill Clinton, whom Holder served as deputy attorney general.

A vote on Holder's confirmation had been scheduled for Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the first step toward confirmation by the full Senate. But Republicans asked for a delay in the vote until next week, drawing the ire of Democrats who said there has been plenty of time to review Holder's record.

'The request has been made by the Republicans to hold the nomination over for one week,' said Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the committee. 'I am extremely disappointed, but they have that right, and this historic - historic - nomination is held over.'

Despite the delay, Holder's nomination is likely to be approved, making him the first African-American to lead the US Justice Department.

'I think most all Republicans feel that all the appropriate questions ought to be asked, and you can do that without prejudging the final outcome' of the nomination, Mitch McConnell, leader of minority Republicans in the Senate, told reporters.

Mark Filip, deputy head of the Justice Department under former president George W Bush, is serving as acting attorney general until Holder is confirmed.