Obama picks NYC prosecutor Loretta Lynch to be next US Attorney General

By Luis E. Gomez, Associate Editor Vol. 20

President Barack Obama named federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch as his pick to be the next attorney general. The 55-year-old Lynch would be the first African-American woman to serve in the post. She is currently the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, New York. Much has been made of the fact that Obama does not know Lynch well. In light of Republican victories in Tuesday’s midterm elections, however, some think that her distance from the White House may help her through the confirmation process. This is particularly important because Republicans, after years of battles with Eric Holder, have promised tough scrutiny of President Obama’s pick. Read here to get a little more background information on Lynch, and here to read more on the GOP’s promise to make her nomination hearings a referendum on immigration.