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Eric Holder

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10 Apr, 2015

Prostitution memo to employees

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A memo says that Justice Department employees who “accept commercial sex” undermine the agency’s efforts to combat human trafficking and invites blackmail, extortion, and leaks of sensitive information. Holder warns violators are subject to suspensions or termination and managers who fail to report suspected violations will also be subject to discipline. Contractors must also abide by the same rules.

Regardless of whether prostitution is legal or tolerated in a particular jurisdiction, soliciting prostitutes creates a greater demand for human trafficking victims and a consequent increase in the number of minor and adult persons trafficked into commercial sex slavery.

24 Feb, 2015

No federal charges

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The Justice Department says its independent investigation finds “insufficient evidence” to charge Zimmerman with federal civil rights violations in the shooting death of Martin. Attorney General Holder says the evidence did not meet the high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution. The decision closes the federal investigation.

This young man’s premature death necessitates that we continue the dialogue and be unafraid of confronting the issues and tensions his passing brought to the surface. We, as a nation, must take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

The Martin family says they are “disappointed” by the decision.

25 Sep, 2014

Stepping down

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Holder is stepping down from his post. In recent months he discussed his plans personally with Obama and finalized those plans in an hour-long conversation with the President at the White House over Labor Day weekend. White House officials:

After serving for nearly six years as the head of the Justice Department, Holder is the first African-American to be Attorney General of the United States and will be the fourth longest person to hold the position. Holder’s accomplishments have established a historic legacy of civil rights enforcement and restoring fairness to the criminal justice system. Holder revitalized the Department’s praised Civil Rights Division, protected the rights of the LGBT community, successfully prosecuted terrorists, and fought tirelessly for voting rights, to name a few. He will remain at the Department of Justice until his post is filled.

21 Aug, 2014

CNN interview

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McSpadden and Brown Jr. voice their trust issues with the government and Attorney General, Holder. McSpadden:

Just hearing the words come directly from his mouth face to face, he made me feel like one day I will and I am not saying today or yesterday but one day they’ll regain my trust.

Michael Brown's parents meet with Eric Holder

20 Aug, 2014

Visits Ferguson

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Michael Brown atty gen

Holder meets with the Brown family during a stop in Ferguson. Later, St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley students meet with Holder to speak about their personal police encounters. The Justice Departmentsays it will conducts a parallel investigation into possible civil rights violations related to the shooting. Holder:

We’re looking for possible violations of federal civil rights statutes

19 Sep, 2012

Failed Fast and Furious operation

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Federal agents and prosecutors in Phoenix ignore risks to the public and are primarily responsible for the botched effort to infiltrate weapons-smuggling rings in the Fast and Furious operation. Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz:

This failure reflected a significant lack of oversight and urgency by both ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

20 Jun, 2012

Held in contempt

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The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee votes 23 to 17 to hold Holder in contempt for failing to share documents related to the operation run out of the Phoenix division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives between 2009 and 2011.

The vote is a divisive action that does nothing to make any of our law enforcement agents safer. It’s an election-year tactic intended to distract attention — and, as a result — has deflected critical resources from fulfilling what remains my top priority at the Department of Justice: Protecting the American people.

Oct 2009

Fast and Furious operation

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The Fast and Furious Operation allows weapons from the United States to pass into the hands of suspected firearms smugglers so that they could be tracked to the upper levels of Mexican drug cartels. Department of Justice:

Operation Fast and Furious is an inter-agency effort to combat Mexico-based trafficking groups.