Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters that the White House has signaled that he should not to push for the confirmation of federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch as attorney general in the remaining weeks of the lame-duck Congress,
Politico reported.
"My personal feeling is that the White House, through intermediaries with me, have said 'don't be pushing that.' We can do it after the first of the year," Reid said.
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, who is expected to usher the Brooklyn-based Lynch through the nomination process, told reporters last week that the nomination would be put on hold.
"I think our Republican colleagues don't want it during the lame duck, and I think we are going to accede to that request," Schumer said,
Roll Call reported.
Holding off makes it less likely that Lynch's nomination will get caught up in the controversy over President Barack Obama's promise to use executive action on immigration.
Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah had explicitly
tied the two issues, Roll Call reported.
The White House does not foresee a problem getting Lynch nominated next year by a Republican-controlled Senate,
The Associated Press reported.
Reid is working with incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to process dozens of lower-level nominations that have been held up because of political gridlock.
"I would hope that my staff and that of Sen. McConnell can work out a nice, sound package like we used to," Reid said. If that did not happen, Reid said he might push for votes on judicial and executive nominees, Politico reported.
Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to stay on until his successor is confirmed.
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