Fashion Statement at Justice: Free Eric Holder Wristbands
A new fashion trend is sweeping the halls of the Justice Department for spring Free Eric Holder wristbands, an inside joke among Attorney General Eric Holders top aides and supporters about the months-long political standoff over his successor.
The black rubber bracelets were the idea of Molly Moran, a senior Justice Department official, according to people who have received them. The wristbands, like the kind people wear to support various charities or causes, started appearing on staffers wrists a couple weeks ago, when it became clear there was no end in sight to the standoff over the nomination of Loretta Lynch.
Mr. Holder is one of President Barack Obamas longest-serving cabinet members, and last year he announced he would leave the post as soon as a successor was confirmed.
At the time, the Obama administration thought that would be in January. Now, a Senate floor vote on Ms. Lynch is weeksif not monthsaway because of a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over an abortion provision in a human trafficking bill.
The irony of the situation is that congressional Republicans spent years trying to force Mr. Holder out of his job. The House voted to hold him in contempt in 2012 in a fight over documents about the botched Fast and Furious gun-running probe.
Now, the fad of little black rubber bracelets saying Free Eric Holder has grown beyond the Justice Department building, appearing on the wrists of some of Mr. Holders ex-staffers, like his former spokeswoman Adora Jenkins. She said the bracelets are a fun way to mark how the nomination process has dragged on and kept Mr. Holder in the job hed like to leave.
I think its just gotten to the point where its ridiculous how long this has been going on and friends and supporters of the attorney general want to be able to show their support and also have a laugh, said Ms. Jenkins.
Staffers have paid for the bracelets with their own money not taxpayer funds and have talked about making Free Eric Holder T-shirts as well.
Were hoping for a day we dont have to wear these bracelets anymore, even if it takes a charity album, joked one.
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Fashion Statement at Justice: Free Eric Holder Wristbands