Attorney General Eric Holder goes to Denver today to attend his 17th U.S. Attorney investiture – this time for Colorado U.S. Attorney John F. Walsh.
Main Justice caught up with Holder recently to ask him why he’s gone to so many of the ceremonies, many more than his immediate predecessors.
“The fifth floor can be an isolating place,” Holder said, referring to the leadership offices of Department of Justice headquarters in Washington. Attending the ceremonies “does recharge me,” and “gives me the opportunity to interact with the people in the department and find out what they think” in an unfiltered way, he added.
He said it is also an opportunity to impart his vision for the department. Which is? “I’m not worried about conviction rates” or how much money prosecutors recover in fines, he said. “I remind them that with great power … comes great responsibility.”
He added:Â ”The only thing I want them to do is the right thing, to do justice.”
Holder said he has visited 35 U.S. Attorney offices since becoming Attorney General in early 2009. “My hope is I will go to every office,” he said.
In an October 2009 article, Ron Woods, executive director of the National Association of Former U.S. Attorneys, told us that AG appearances at investitures outside the District of Columbia are “fairly rare.”
[...] ceremony in Denver marked Holder’s 17th U.S. Attorney investiture. Main Justice reported earlier on why Holder likes to attend the ceremonies. RELATED POSTS:Holder to Grace Another U.S. [...]