Lynch's historic step

Published April 24, 2015

Editorial by Greensboro News-Record, April 24, 2015.

As a child in Greensboro and then Durham during the civil rights movement, Loretta Lynch witnessed history.

She took her own historic step Thursday when she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the Justice Department. She’ll become the first African American woman to serve as attorney general.

Lynch earned the position for her legal accomplishments, both in private practice and as U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y. She’s successfully prosecuted terrorists, mob figures, crooked politicians and other criminals, earning a strong endorsement from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican.

Her confirmation, unfortunately, was bogged down by partisan politics. Her home state senators, Republicans Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, voted against her Thursday.

Enough Republicans — 10 — voted with respect to Lynch’s credentials to give her a 56-43 victory. They included Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Thad Cochran of Mississippi.

On the other side was Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), who said Lynch was “publicly committed to denigrating Congress, violating laws of Congress, violating even the wishes of Congress and the American people.” Those are slanderous words cast at a woman who has enforced the laws of our country and protected the American people as a federal prosecutor. She will do the same in her new office.

Then there was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who stated, “I very much wanted to support Loretta Lynch’s confirmation” until she disappointed him at her Judiciary Committee hearing. His questioning of her during that hearing was adversarial from the start. It was clear he would never back anyone nominated by President Barack Obama.

At least Burr and Tillis declined to speak against Lynch on the floor of the Senate, sparing North Carolina the embarrassment that many residents of Alabama and Texas might feel. Burr and Tillis’ votes, though announced weeks ago, were disheartening enough.

Yet, the Senate’s collective wisdom has put Lynch into a critically important post. She is due congratulations, but she also has work ahead of her.

National security is the top concern. The FBI continues to arrest suspected domestic terrorists plotting to attack targets in this country or to join extremist groups overseas. Those efforts must continue, and offenders must be prosecuted.

At the same time, Lynch must find the right balance between security and privacy. The war against terrorism doesn’t provide an excuse for government to spy on ordinary citizens.

The Justice Department must work with local law-enforcement agencies to ease tensions with minority communities, as well as continue to protect civil rights.

Lynch also must build a strong relationship with Congress. The votes against her reflected anger at Obama, for political reasons. She’s a professional, not a politician. At this moment in history, she may be the attorney general the country needs.

http://www.news-record.com/opinion/n_and_r_editorials/lynch-s-historic-step/article_128626d6-ea03-11e4-a012-5f3f1648b280.html

April 24, 2015 at 8:57 am
Richard L Bunce says:

GNR acts like Ms. Lynch was the first US AG nominee to ever receive a no vote from a Senator...

April 24, 2015 at 10:11 am
Johnny Hiott says:

Yes, she is now the attorney general of the US. It is indeed a sad day when the US senate allows someone with her criminal background to ascend to that office. There again since the entire federal government is now criminal I suppose there is some sort of mandate that all criminals must be replaced with criminals.