Eric Holder

Eric Holder
Born	Eric Himpton Holder Jr. 21 1, 1951
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, government official
Title	Chairman, National Democratic Redistricting Committee
Known for	82nd United States Attorney General; first African American to hold the position
Education	Columbia University (BA, JD)
Children	3
Awards	Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award (2025)

Eric Himpton Holder Jr. (born January 21, 1951) is an American lawyer and government official who served as the 82nd United States Attorney General from 2009 to 2015 under President Barack Obama. The first African American to hold the office of attorney general, Holder's career in public service and law has spanned more than four decades, encompassing roles as a federal prosecutor, judge, U.S. attorney, and deputy attorney general before his appointment to the nation's highest law enforcement position. Born in New York City to a family of Barbadian descent, Holder rose through the ranks of the United States Department of Justice and the federal judiciary, prosecuting high-profile government corruption cases and shaping national policy on civil rights, criminal justice, and national security. His tenure as attorney general was marked by significant initiatives in areas such as voting rights enforcement, drug sentencing reform, and the federal response to financial fraud, as well as controversy surrounding the Operation Fast and Furious investigation, which led to his becoming the first sitting attorney general held in contempt of Congress. Since leaving government, Holder has returned to private legal practice at the law firm Covington & Burling and has taken a leading role in redistricting and gerrymandering reform efforts as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

Early Life

Eric Himpton Holder Jr. was born on January 21, 1951, in New York City. He grew up in a middle-class family of Barbadian (Bajan) origin. His family's roots in the Caribbean shaped the household's emphasis on education and public service. Holder was raised in the East Bronx neighborhood of New York City, where he attended local public schools during his formative years.

As a young student, Holder demonstrated exceptional academic ability. He gained admission to Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City's elite specialized public high schools, which requires students to pass a competitive entrance examination. His time at Stuyvesant provided him with a rigorous academic foundation and exposed him to a diverse and intellectually demanding environment.

Holder came of age during the Civil Rights Movement, and the struggle for racial equality in the United States had a formative influence on his worldview and later career choices. His sister-in-law, Vivian Malone Jones, was one of the first two African American students to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1963, famously walking past Governor George Wallace during his "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" protest against desegregation. This family connection to a pivotal moment in civil rights history would later inform Holder's approach to issues of racial justice and voting rights throughout his legal and political career.

Education

Holder pursued his undergraduate and legal education at Columbia University in Manhattan, remaining in his home city of New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College in 1973. He then continued at Columbia Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1976. During his time at Columbia Law School, Holder was a member of the legal community that would produce a number of prominent lawyers and public servants. His Columbia education provided both the academic credentials and the professional network that would support his subsequent career in the federal government and private practice.

Career

Early Career at the Department of Justice

After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1976, Holder joined the United States Department of Justice, beginning what would become a long association with the department. He was assigned to the newly established Public Integrity Section, a unit within the Department of Justice's Criminal Division responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption among public officials at all levels of government. Holder worked in the Public Integrity Section for twelve years, from 1976 to 1988, handling cases involving government corruption and abuse of office.

During his tenure in the Public Integrity Section, Holder developed expertise in corruption cases and established a reputation as a skilled federal prosecutor. His work in this area gave him extensive experience in the complexities of investigating and trying cases against elected officials and government employees, skills that would prove central to his subsequent career.

Superior Court Judge

In 1988, Holder was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He served in this judicial capacity from 1988 to 1993, presiding over cases in the District of Columbia's trial court of general jurisdiction. Holder succeeded Virginia Riley on the bench and was himself later succeeded by Judith Bartnoff. His appointment by a Republican president underscored the bipartisan recognition of his legal qualifications during this period of his career. The judicial experience gave Holder a perspective on the law from the bench that complemented his years as a prosecutor.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia

With the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in January 1993, Holder transitioned from the judiciary back to a prosecutorial role. Clinton nominated him to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and he took office on January 20, 1993. In this capacity, Holder was the chief federal law enforcement officer for the nation's capital, overseeing all federal criminal and civil prosecutions in the District.

One of the most prominent cases Holder handled as U.S. attorney was the prosecution of Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful Illinois Democrat who served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rostenkowski was charged with corruption in connection with the Congressional Post Office scandal, which involved the misuse of public funds and resources by members of Congress and congressional staff. Holder's prosecution of such a high-ranking political figure demonstrated his willingness to pursue public corruption cases regardless of the defendant's political affiliation or status.

Holder served as U.S. attorney until June 13, 1997, when he was elevated to the position of deputy attorney general. He was succeeded as U.S. attorney by Mary Lou Leary.

Deputy Attorney General

On June 13, 1997, Holder became the 29th United States Deputy Attorney General, the second-highest ranking official in the Department of Justice, serving under Attorney General Janet Reno. His appointment to this position made him one of the most senior African American officials in federal law enforcement at the time.

As deputy attorney general, Holder oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Department of Justice and played a key role in shaping the department's policies during the final years of the Clinton administration. His responsibilities encompassed the management of the department's various divisions and agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Prisons.

Holder served as deputy attorney general until the end of the Clinton administration on January 20, 2001. He briefly continued in an acting capacity at the start of the George W. Bush administration, serving as acting attorney general from January 20 to February 2, 2001, in the interval between Janet Reno's departure and the confirmation of John Ashcroft as the new attorney general.

Private Practice at Covington & Burling

Following his departure from the Department of Justice in 2001, Holder joined the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Covington & Burling, one of the nation's most prominent corporate law firms. At the firm, he represented multinational corporate clients in complex litigation matters. His transition from government service to corporate law practice was a path commonly taken by senior government lawyers, and Holder's extensive experience in the Department of Justice made him a valuable asset in navigating regulatory and legal issues for the firm's clients.

During this period, Holder also became involved in Democratic Party politics. He served as a senior legal advisor to Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign and was named as one of three members of Obama's vice-presidential selection committee, tasked with vetting potential running mates for the Democratic nominee. Holder's close relationship with Obama during the campaign positioned him as a leading candidate for a senior position in the incoming administration.

Attorney General of the United States

On December 1, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Holder as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States. The nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 2, 2009, making Holder the first African American to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. He was sworn in on February 3, 2009, succeeding Michael Mukasey, who had served under President George W. Bush.

Civil Rights and Voting Rights

As attorney general, Holder placed significant emphasis on civil rights enforcement and voting rights protection. Shortly after taking office, he delivered a notable speech at the Department of Justice during African-American History Month in which he addressed the state of race relations in America, describing the nation as "a nation of cowards" on matters of race for failing to engage in frank discussions about racial issues. The speech generated significant public discussion and debate.

Under Holder's leadership, the Department of Justice actively challenged state voter identification laws and other measures that the department argued disproportionately affected minority voters. He used the authority of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to contest redistricting plans and election-related legislation in several states, arguing that such measures constituted unlawful discrimination.

Criminal Justice Reform

Holder pursued reforms to the federal criminal justice system, particularly regarding drug sentencing policies. He directed federal prosecutors to avoid charging certain low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with offenses that would trigger mandatory minimum sentences, an initiative he described as part of a broader "Smart on Crime" approach to federal prosecution. This represented a significant shift in federal drug enforcement policy and was aimed at reducing the federal prison population while focusing resources on more serious offenders.

Operation Fast and Furious Controversy

Holder's tenure was significantly affected by the controversy surrounding Operation Fast and Furious, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) operation in which federal agents allowed illegal gun sales to proceed in an attempt to trace the weapons to Mexican drug cartel leaders. The operation came under intense scrutiny after weapons linked to the program were found at the scene of the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010.

Congressional Republicans, led by Representative Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, launched an investigation into the operation and Holder's knowledge of it. When the Department of Justice declined to produce certain internal documents related to the investigation, citing executive privilege as asserted by President Obama, the House of Representatives voted on June 28, 2012, to hold Holder in contempt of Congress. This made Holder the first sitting attorney general in American history to be held in contempt of Congress.

The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General subsequently conducted its own investigation into Operation Fast and Furious. The inspector general's report, released in September 2012, found fault with the ATF and the Department of Justice's management of the operation but cleared Holder of personal knowledge of or involvement in the operational decisions that led to the gunwalking. Holder was not prosecuted on the contempt charges.

Departure from Office

Holder announced his intention to resign as attorney general on September 25, 2014, stating that he would remain in office until his successor was confirmed. His deputy, Sally Yates, served in an acting capacity during portions of the transition. Loretta Lynch, whom Obama nominated as Holder's successor, was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in on April 27, 2015, ending Holder's six-year tenure as the nation's chief law enforcement officer.

Return to Private Practice and Redistricting Advocacy

After leaving the Department of Justice, Holder returned to Covington & Burling, where he resumed the practice of corporate litigation, primarily representing financial firms and other corporate clients.

In 2017, Holder assumed the chairmanship of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), an organization established to support Democratic efforts to influence the redistricting process following the 2020 census and to combat gerrymandering. Under Holder's leadership, the NDRC has pursued legal challenges to redistricting maps deemed to constitute partisan or racial gerrymandering and has supported ballot initiatives and legislative efforts to establish independent redistricting commissions in various states.

Holder has been active in public advocacy on redistricting issues, speaking at forums and issuing public statements on proposed redistricting maps and legislation. In 2025, he called on Maryland state senators to sign a discharge petition to bring a proposed redistricting map to a vote. He also issued a statement supporting Colorado's pursuit of a redistricting ballot measure to address what he described as "Republican mid-decade gerrymanders."

In November 2025, Holder delivered a speech criticizing the Supreme Court of the United States ahead of major redistricting decisions before the court. He has also spoken publicly on issues related to the Department of Justice, including appearing on U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's podcast in October 2025 to discuss concerns about the politicization of the department.

Holder spoke at the 2025 Texas Tribune Festival, addressing issues related to law, politics, and redistricting.

Personal Life

Eric Holder is married to Dr. Sharon Malone, an obstetrician-gynecologist who has practiced medicine in the Washington, D.C., area. The couple has three children. Holder's sister-in-law was Vivian Malone Jones, who gained national attention in 1963 as one of the first two African American students to enroll at the University of Alabama, defying Governor George Wallace's attempt to block desegregation. Jones's experience became one of the iconic moments of the civil rights era. Holder's nephew, Jeff Malone, is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association.

Holder resides in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, where he has lived for much of his adult life since first joining the Department of Justice in 1976. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has been active in Democratic political circles since the 1990s.

Recognition

Holder's status as the first African American attorney general of the United States has been recognized as a milestone in the history of American law and government. His appointment was widely noted in the context of the broader significance of Barack Obama's presidency as the first African American president.

In December 2025, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute honored Holder with the Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, named after the civil rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth. The award was presented during a ceremony celebrating the institute's 33rd anniversary, recognizing Holder's contributions to civil rights and public service.

Throughout his career, Holder has been profiled and featured in numerous legal and political publications. He has been recognized by various legal organizations for his contributions to the fields of public integrity, civil rights law, and criminal justice reform. His appearances and speeches have been archived by C-SPAN as part of its public affairs programming record.

Legacy

Eric Holder's legacy is defined in significant part by his historic role as the first African American to serve as United States attorney general. His appointment represented a milestone in the representation of African Americans at the highest levels of the federal government and in the legal profession. Holder himself has spoken about the significance of his appointment in the context of the broader struggle for civil rights in the United States, drawing connections between his own career and the experiences of his sister-in-law, Vivian Malone Jones, and other figures of the civil rights movement.

His tenure as attorney general was characterized by an emphasis on civil rights enforcement and criminal justice reform, particularly his efforts to reduce the impact of mandatory minimum drug sentences on nonviolent offenders. These initiatives contributed to a broader national conversation about criminal justice reform that continued after his departure from office.

The contempt of Congress citation arising from the Operation Fast and Furious investigation remains a notable aspect of Holder's tenure and a subject of ongoing political debate. Supporters have pointed to the inspector general's findings clearing him of personal responsibility, while critics have continued to view the episode as evidence of inadequate oversight and transparency.

Since leaving office, Holder's work with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee has placed him at the center of one of the most contested issues in American electoral politics. His efforts to challenge redistricting maps through litigation and to promote independent redistricting processes have made him one of the most prominent figures in the debate over gerrymandering in the United States.

His career trajectory—from the Public Integrity Section to the federal bench, from U.S. attorney to deputy attorney general, and ultimately to attorney general—represents one of the most extensive records of service within the United States Department of Justice in the modern era.