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In this file photo, United States Attorney General Eric Holder addresses the Police Executive Research Forum's National Summit at the Mayflower Hotel April 16, 2014 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Facing a tight schedule and complaints from conservatives, Attorney General Eric Holder cancelled a planned speech to a group of graduating police cadets in Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Holder was scheduled to address 42 cadets with the Oklahoma City Police Department during their swearing-in ceremony on Thursday afternoon in downtown Oklahoma City.

The scheduled address drew threats of protests and the ire of local Republicans and conservative activists, including Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla., who said Holder was an "ironic" choice of speaker, given his "tactics of obfuscation and redirection of blame" as attorney general.

"I do not think our state has ever asked a federal official who is currently in Contempt of Congress to speak to our graduates," Lankford, who is also running for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2014, said in a statement. "Given his numerous questionable decisions, his unwillingness to cooperate with congressional investigations and his Justice Department's opacity under this President, he would not be my first choice to stand as this Administration's example of justice, leadership and integrity."

The Justice Department, though, downplayed the role of politics in Holder's decision to cancel, blaming an unexpected delay. A Justice Department spokesman told CBS News' Paula Reid that Holder was forced to scuttle his plans because he was held up by a morning meeting in Washington, D.C. and he could not make it to Oklahoma City in time to speak.

Holder still plans to meet with the U.S. attorneys in Oklahoma City, according to the Justice Department, and he will also consult with U.S. attorneys during an earlier stop in Plano, Texas on Thursday. On Friday, the attorney general is scheduled to visit Omaha, Neb., to speak with the U.S. attorneys there.

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Facing protests, Eric Holder cancels Oklahoma City speech

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 25 (UPI) -- A conservative state lawmaker claimed victory when U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder canceled a speech to graduating Oklahoma City police recruits.

About 75 protesters showed up outside the First Church in Oklahoma City, where the ceremony was held. Police Capt. Dexter Nelson said as many as 300 had been expected but many apparently decided to stay home when they learned Holder would not be there.

I think it was very understood that people could come together using their First Amendment right to assemble and speak, and thats what we did, Republican state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft said. We had a direct impact on the highest law official in America. Thats not small stuff.

U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange replaced Holder, addressing the class of 42 graduating recruits.

Holder, the first black head of the U.S. Justice Department, is a former U.S. attorney and federal judge. He has become a lightning rod for conservatives because of his support for gay rights and the Obama administration's efforts to reduce prison sentences for some drug offenders.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that Holder's associates in the Justice Department say he plans to remain in the administration until after the midterm elections but does not want to stay on the job through President Obama's second term. There had been speculation he would leave before the midterms because confirming a successor would be more difficult if the Republicans win a Senate majority.

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Holder cancels speech to Oklahoma police recruits amid threatened protests

Atty. Gen. Eric Holder speaks at the Justice Department's Diversity and Inclusion Speaker Series on Wednesday at the Justice Department in Washington. (Susan Walsh / AP / April 22, 2014)

April 24, 2014, 11:54 a.m.

WASHINGTONEric H. Holder Jr. is a traveling attorney general, with a penchant for trips around the country and the world to give speeches or inspect offices.

But Thursday he canceled a planned speech in Oklahoma City at the 130th Police Academy graduation ceremony, after local Republicans announced that they planned to bring out hundreds of protesters.

Oklahoma gun rights activists, citing the bungled "Fast and Furious" scheme to catch gun traffickers, and a conservative state representative called the invitation to Holder an outrage.

The Justice Department said Holder was forced to cancel the speech because a meeting in Washington ran late, though he did go to Oklahoma City to visit the U.S. attorneys office there. It did not immediately address questions about whether the protest was a factor.

There may have been security concerns about the appearance. A libertarian website, Liberty Voice, said Wednesday that Eric Holder may want some extra security on his visit to Oklahoma City, citing the planned protests.

Oklahoma is a very conservative state where we take judicial and legal enforcement very seriously, explained state Rep. Michael Turner. His stance in not answering Congress on fast and furious really rubs lot of individuals the wrong way. And people here view him as being soft on immigration and very soft on crime.

tim.phelps@latimes.com

Twitter: @timphelpsLAT

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Holder cancels speech in Oklahoma City amid conservative protests

Attorney General Eric Holder canceled an appearance before the Oklahoma City Police Departments graduating cadet class Thursday amid angry protests over his scheduled visit.

Mr. Holder was expected to deliver remarks at the afternoon graduation ceremony, according to his official itinerary sent out by the Justice Department Thursday morning.

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A Justice Department spokesman denied that the trip was canceled because of the possibility of a hostile reception. An early meeting at the Justice Department delayed Mr. Holders departure from Washington, causing him to miss the graduation ceremony, spokesman Brian Fallon said in an email.

The attorney general had been looking forward to addressing the cadets, and regrets he cannot attend in person, Mr. Fallon said. He extends his heartfelt congratulations to the cadets and their families.

But Mr. Holders scheduled visit to Oklahoma City drew the criticism of several conservative lawmakers who planned the protest in anticipation of his arrival, including Republican state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, who has said he believes that Mr. Holder should be impeached.

Our protest has turned into a victory celebration because we frankly didnt want him here and we succeeded, Mr. Wesselhoft said in an interview. This man has used his position to advance his own political agenda and thats not right. He swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution and defend it for all of us not some of us.

Carla Russell, one of the about 100 activists who came out for the rally, held a sign that read: Holder is a Terrorist.

Hes not coming because hes a chicken, Mrs. Russell told the Red Dirt Report, a local news website. And he doesnt want to be recorded with people protesting against him with signs like mine.

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Holder cancels appearance in OKC amid angry protests

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