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Should be working to improve our state, not tearing it apart

There were more than3million people in California who voted for Donald Trump, but you would not know it by listening to our politicians or media.

We are one nation and we need to work together to improve our nation, not break it apart. Since when do we need former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to battle for our state? Our Legislature is wasting our tax dollars. They should be working with our new president to bring our country together, not drive it further apart.

John PickrellConcord

There have been a number of letter writers saying that its time to stop protesting President Donald Trump, pointing out they didnt do that to Barack Obama in 2009.

Trump denied Obama was a citizen, catering to the far-right extremists. The emails of a racist nature flew fast and furious during Obamas tenure but its true there were no outright protests as I recall. And why would there be? Obama didnt deny science, call Mexicans criminals, promise to gut the Affordale Care Act, or turn Medicare into a voucher system as well as our schools.

Just look at Trumps Cabinet for a clue. Many of them are under investigation for illegal behavior and others dont even understand the agency they are to head. This is another false equivalency.

Anne Spanier Alameda

I was a bit amused at a recent letter in which the writerquoted atheist Richard Dawkins in his response to silly beliefs of Christians.

Hows this for silly? In the beginning was nothing and nothing happened to nothing. Then all of a sudden a whole lot of something happened and nothing exploded for no apparent reason creating everything which became self replicating bits and eventually after a whole lot of time became planets, stars and dinosaurs.

Oh, those silly atheists and their beliefs.

Chris Murrell Walnut Creek

Barry Bonds record of 762 home runs stands and there is no way of knowing if the numbers would have been less had he not taken steroids.

Similarly, Donald Trump won the Electoral College with 306 votes and is the president. As with Bonds, it is impossible to prove that his victory would not have occurred without illegal assistance.

If Russias efforts caused the vote to swing by only one half of 1percent in some battleground states, that would represent the winning margin. It is not unreasonable to believe that their activities resulted in at least a .005 difference in the vote in those key states and very believable that the impact was much more.

If so, without Russian interference on behalf of Trump, Hillary Clinton would have won. However, that can never be proved conclusively.

Perhaps the best way to view Trumps presidency is that, while technically legal, it is not necessarily legitimate. And it certainly does not represent a mandate. His supporters should be ashamed, or at least, humbled and the rest of us should remind them, respectfully, at least at first, as to why they should be.

Ray Cole Brentwood

It was breathtaking to read that five elementary schools in the Oakland Diocese will be closing in June. The other side of the coin is that many dedicated, experienced teachers will be losing their jobs.

It would behoove the neighboring cities to look into hiring these excellent teachers for the fall. Most of them live locally.

Mary McMahon Livermore

Read more from the original source:
A letter writer bemoans the state's hiring of Eric Holder - East Bay Times

Last Updated Jan 30, 2017 11:02 PM EST

While she was acting attorney general, Sally Yates announced on Monday evening that the Department of Justice would not defend President Trumps executive order banning new arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries.

In this June 28, 2016 file photo, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington.

J. David Ake, AP

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After a weekend of protests against Donald Trump's executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries, he and his advisers insis...

Yates, a career official and Obama appointee, said in a statement that she was not convinced the order is lawful and that the Justice Department would not defend it in court until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.

The executive order banning new arrivals and refugees from the seven Muslim-majority countries had already been challenged in court a number of times, and has sparked widespread protests in major cities. On Saturday, the Justice Departmentdefended the order before a court in Brooklyn. Yates decision signified a major about-face by the department.

Shortly after her statement, the White House said Yates was fired.

The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House said in a statement on Monday night. This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel.

The White House said President Trump relieved Ms. Yates of her duties and named Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general. The White House said he would serve until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate, where he is being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons.

I am honored to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed, said Boente, who was sworn in later on Monday.

Before the announcement, President Trump tweeted, The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder had tweeted support for Yates.

Sally Yates: person of integrity/attorney with great legal skill, Holder tweeted. Has served this nation with distinction. Her judgment should be trusted.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday morning to vote on the nomination of Sessions for attorney general. The vote was delayed by one week during last Tuesdays committee meeting when Senate Democrats asked for more time to consider the nomination, which is allowed by committee rules, CBS News John Nolen reports.

Following a vote by the committee the nomination goes to the full Senate for consideration. Although Senate Democrats dont have the votes to block the nomination, they can use procedural maneuvers to draw the process out. The final vote by the full Senate on the Sessions nomination could come at the end of this week or the beginning of next week, depending on when Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell schedules the vote and how long Democrats try to drag the process out.

2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpt from:
Acting US attorney general directed Justice Dept. not to defend Trump travel ban - CBS News

Jan. 26, 2017, 11:42 a.m.

California lawmakers will have a chance to meet the Legislature's new outside counsel on Feb. 7, when former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. travels to the state to addressSenate and Assembly Democrats.

Holder, leading a team of attorneys from the firm Covington & Burling, has been hired by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Len (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly SpeakerAnthony Rendon(D-Paramount) to serve as outside counsel as the state prepares alegal strategy to dealwiththeadministration of President Trump.

But Senate and Assembly staff officials said his invitation to meet with lawmakers was extended prior to the contract, which begins in February, and thatHolder is makingthe trip on his own personal time. His traveland accommodationsexpenses will not be paid with state funds, and his appearances will not be part of his billable hours, they said.

Holder will address Senate Democrats at their annual policy retreat, and will speak to the Assembly Democratic caucus. His visit comes soon after state Democratic leaders this week denounced Trump's executive orders on immigration and pledged to take his administration to court should other legislative means of resistance fail.

The rest is here:
Former US Atty. Gen. Eric Holder will visit Sacramento to meet with Democratic legislators next month - Los Angeles Times

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will visit SVSU on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. to serve as the keynote speaker for SVSUs Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

The event is will be held in the Malcolm Field Theatre and is free to the public.

Director of Media and Community Relations J.J. Boehm said SVSU has been working to bring Eric Holder to campus for MLK since last summer.

He has a rich history of public service, including six years as U.S. Attorney General, serving as our nations top law enforcement official, he said. Its a great opportunity to share his lessons and perspectives with the campus community and people throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Holder, the first African American to hold the position of attorney general, was nominated by President Barack Obama and took office in 2009. In April 2015, he stepped down.

Over the years, he has earned multiple awards and praise for his accomplishments in both the civic and professional realm.

Awards include the NAACP Chairmans Award, George Washington Universitys Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal for Outstanding Service in Human Rights, and the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Prize.

Boehm said he hopes students learn lessons from the lecture that help shape their careers.

Eric Holder received appointments by four U.S. Presidents: Reagan, Clinton, Bush and Obama, he said. This is not easily achieved, and Im sure students can gain insight from his experiences that they may be able to apply in their own lives.

The event is a part of the Eighth Annual Great Lakes Bay Regional MLK Jr. Celebration and is a collaborative effort between businesses, chambers of commerce and community foundations.

Boehm noted, learning is not restricted to the classroom, and SVSU strives to bring speakers to campus that will enrich students college experience while making national figures accessible to see and hear.

It also supports what students are learning in their classes, he said. I suspect students and professors in criminal justice, political science and other disciplines will have more thoughtful class discussions this semester thanks to Eric Holders appearance on campus.

Tickets can be obtained at the main desk in the Ryder Center. Individuals can acquire up to four tickets. Individuals needing more will be placed on a waiting list.

Attendees must bring a government issued photo ID to gain access.

See more here:
Holder to speak at SVSU - The Valley Vanguard

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On January 4 liberal California legislative leadersannouncedthat they are using tax dollars to hire former Attorney General Eric Holder and his law firm to assist them in anticipated federal challenges to several state policies such as climate change and immigration. Leftists controlling the Democratic Party are especially concerned that a new Trump administration might actually start enforcing the rule of law against Californias dangerous and unlawful sanctuary policies. Evidently, Eric Holder will waste taxpayer funds defending this lawlessness.

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In astatement, Kevin de Leon, California Senate President Pro Tempore, said, With the upcoming change in administrations, we expect that there will be extraordinary challenges for California in the uncertain times ahead. The California Attorney General, who represents the States interest in court, already has abudget of $190 million.

In response, we have filed arecords requestwith the California Legislature Joint Rules Committee seeking to examine legislative records regarding the states employment of former Obama U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr.:

All contracts between the California Legislature and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. or Covington and Burling.

All communications between the California Legislature and former U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. or Covington and Burling about the Legislatures retention of Holder and/or Covington and Burling.

Holder was one of Obamas longest-serving and most controversial Cabinet members.

On June 28, 2012, he became the first U.S. Attorney General to be held incontempt of Congresson both civil and criminal grounds. The contempt charge came in connection with Holders refusal to turn over documents about his agencys lies onOperation Fast and Furious, the Obama administrations gun-walking scandal. JW exposednumerousoutragesassociated with thisscandal.

Under Holder the Justice Department dismissed itsvoting rights caseagainst the New Black Panther Party. The Justice Department originally filed its lawsuit against the New Black Panther Party following an incident that took place outside of a Philadelphia polling station on November 4, 2008. According to multiple witnesses, members of the New Black Panthers blocked access to polling stations, harassed voters and hurled racial epithets. A video of the incident, showing a member of the New Black Panther Party brandishing a police-style baton weapon, was widely distributed on the Internet. JW exposed a number of Obama DOJ liesregarding the Black Panthers, which a federal judge validated in Judicial Watch v. United States Department of Justice (No. 1:10-cv-851).

In 2013, the Obama Justice Department was caught spying onThe Associated Pressby collecting months worth of phone records of reporters and editors. Fox News James Rosen was among thosetargetedby Holders Justice Department.

Thanks in part to JWs success in exposing his corruption, Holder was forced to resign from the Justice Department in 2015 and rejoin his old law firm of Covington & Burling.

Our records request is designed to expose how California state legislators are wasting tax dollars to take care of another corrupt politician Eric Holder with the intention of deliberately resisting the rule of law on immigration and other matters. His record at the Clinton and Obama Justice Departments demonstrates a willingness to bend the law in order to protect his political patrons.

Read more:
Fitton: Eric Holder and the California-DC Corruption Connection - Breitbart News