Two Indian-Americans are on the shortlist to succeed Attorney General Eric Holder who announced his decision to resign Sept. 25. California Attorney General Kamala Harris and New York’s U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara are among five being considered, The Hill newspaper reported.
According to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, the President had been aware for the last few days about Holder’s decision and was keen to act quickly to replace him.
Other names mentioned alongside Bharara and Harris are U.S. Solicitor General Don Verrilli, former Arizona AG Janet Napolitano who now heads the California University System, and Tony West, former top Justice Department official who happens to be Harris’ brother-in-law.
Harris is considered a rising star on the Democratic Party firmament and expected to move up the ladder. Bharara is considered a tough prosecutor familiar with inside-the-Beltway politics who has operated on Capitol Hill and in the Justice Department.
Both could face considerable GOP opposition for different reasons. Bharara led the investigation into firings of U.S. Attorney’s under the Bush administration allegedly for political reasons; Harris has embraced gun control as a major priority which would pit her against the National Rifle Association and its allies in Congress.
She is also more openly Liberal in her views on immigration. Both also have strong supporters, as The Hill noted. Bharara is the former chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, who recommended him for the post of U.S. Attorney; Harris has the likes of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Dianne Feinstein, D-California.