WS Chronicle

Greensboro native Loretta Lynch is on her way to becoming the first African-American woman to become U.S. attorney general, but without the blessing of both North Carolina U.S. senators, who are Republicans.

On Thursday morning, Feb. 26, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis voted against Lynch in the Senate Judiciary Committee. But by a 12-8 vote, the committee still recommended that the entire Senate confirm her. Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting for Lynch, who is the U.S. attorney for eastern New York.

Tillis and U.S. Sen. Richard Burr are not saying they won’t support Lynch’s nomination because she is not qualified.

Lynch, 56, who went to high school in Durham, oversees federal prosecutions in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and American literature from Harvard College in 1981 and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1984.

She has worked for the federal Eastern District for over a decade in various positions, having served several key positions in the U.S. Attorney’s office from 1990 to 2001. In 1999, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York,

During her term as U.S. attorney, Lynch oversaw prosecution of high-profile cases, such as the prosecution of New York City police officers in the Abner Louima case.

In 2001, Lynch left the U.S. Attorney’s office to become a law partner at Hogan & Hartson (later Hogan Lovells).

She remained there until January 20, 2010, when  President Obama nominated her to the U.S. Attorney position again. Lynch again has handled high-profile cases, such as the case of Citigroup regarding mortgage securities sold by the bank, resulting in a $7 billion settlement.

However, Burr and Tillis seem to overlook the qualifications of this candidate to concentrate on her stances to uphold the law as she sees it. It comes down politics,

Tillis has said that when Lynch testified to the Judiciary Committee that she considers Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration to be legal, that did not set well with him.

Tillis also said he’s not convinced there would be enough of a change in management style from current Attorney General Eric Holder. Republicans have vilified Holder since he has been attorney general.

Burr mentioned in his news release Lynch’s support to continue the Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed under Holder, challenging a 2013 election overhaul passed by the N.C. General Assembly while Tillis was state House speaker.

Three Republicans joined the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, voting to recommend Lynch’s nomination to the full Senate. We can’t say all Republicans will be on the wrong side of history when Lynch becomes Attorney General. But we can say that North Carolina native Lynch won’t be able to say the Republican senators in her native state supported her nomination like senators usually support qualified candidates from their home states.

Burr and Tillis are wrong. We look forward to the day soon when the majority vote by the entire Senate is right in confirming Loretta Lynch.