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Holder would not confirm in an interview with CNN's Justice correspondent Pamela Brown the suspected terrorist's identity or reveal whether the U.S. government knows where "Jihadi John" is -- but he insisted America will not relent in bringing to justice the man seen in ISIS videos showing the beheadings of U.S. hostages and other Westerners.

READ: ISIS militant 'Jihadi John' identified

"Whether it's through the use of our military or the use of our law enforcement capacity, if you harm Americans it is the sworn duty of every person in the executive branch to find you and hold you accountable, and we will do that," he said.

Holder, who will be leaving his post in the coming weeks, sat down for an interview with CNN at the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters Thursday in Washington D.C.

Brown pressed Holder asking, "Do you think we would go as far as to send U.S. troops to find Jihadi John and hunt him down?"

"I wouldn't put anything off the table," Holder said.

The attorney general also admitted the threat of a lone wolf attack inside the United States keeps him awake at night.

In light of a recent video urging attacks on shopping malls in the U.S. and other countries, Holder said malls should increase security to help prevent such attacks.

The video released last weekend by extremist group al-Shabaab, a group designated by the US government as a terrorist organization. The video pecifically named the Mall of America in Minnesota and appeared to be designed to inspire terrorist attacks similar to the one on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, two years ago in which 60 people were killed after a four-day standoff.

"I certainly think we have to step up our sensitivities to what goes on in these commercial enterprises," Holder said. "I think it would be the responsible thing for operators of these malls to increase their capabilities when it comes to keeping people safe who are just going about their everyday lives."

Excerpt from:
Eric Holder: I'm worried about lone wolf attacks

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Eric Holders days as attorney general are numbered. And in an interview with ABC News Pierre Thomas, he reflected on his six years leading a department that he first started working for at the age of 25, as a lawyer fresh out of Columbia Law School.

Leaving the department is bittersweet ... in the truest sense of the word, Holder said, adding theres some satisfaction in being the nations first African-American attorney general.

I am aware of the historical significance of my appointment, Holder conceded. I am hoping that I've done a job that would make proud the people who made it possible; the people who sacrificed, the people who struggled, the people who dreamed, the people who gave their lives. I owe a special something to them.

Nevertheless, Holder, 64, has had his ups and downs, and his share of controversies. Heres how he described to ABC News some particular moments of his tenure:

Jack Date/ABC News

PHOTO: Pierre Thomas speaks with Attorney General Eric Holder in London on Friday, July 11th, 2014.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

On Air Force One, former President Bush shows photos to First Lady Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Valerie Jarrett, National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, Attorney General Eric Holder and former First Lady Laura Bush.

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What It's Really Like to Be the US Attorney General

I think that Congress ultimately has to do that (reclassify marijuana). This is a topic that ultimately, I think ought to be engaged in by our nation, informed by the experiences that we see in Colorado, in Washington. There is, I think, a legitimate debate to be had on both sides of that question where marijuana ought to be in terms of its scheduling.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, National Press Club speech, Feb. 17, 2015

I am concerned, however, about your comments regarding the classification of marijuana As you know, you already have the statutory authority to reclassify marijuana.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), letterto Holder in response, Feb. 18, 2015

Holder was asked this questionat the National Press Club event about marijuana: Under the Controlled Substances Act, the administration has the power to reclassify marijuana with no further congressional action needed. Do you think that is something that the president should consider in the next couple years?

Legalization advocates pushed back to Holders answer after the event, especially after Cohen, a longtime advocate of rescheduling marijuana, sent his letter in response. Some advocates took to social media to criticize Holder for denying he has authority. They encouraged one another on Facebook and Twitter to flood Holders office with calls challenging his statement. They made another push asking him to reclassify marijuana, noting that President Obama has said that he does not believe marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol.

Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, meaning it is classified as the most harmful category of drugs, with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Advocates believe that if marijuana is taken out of that classification, it would clear the path for more research into the effects of marijuana and ultimately lead to legalization and regulation nationwide.

While Holders statement was an opinion, and something that cant easily be fact-checked, it is important to explore it, as well asCohens response. As more states look toward legalizing recreational marijuana, advocates are pushing back stronger on statements such as Holders. Twenty-three states have legalized medical marijuana. Alaska recentlybecame the third state to legalize marijuana, and D.C.s recreational marijuana law is set to take effect Feb. 26.

Can the attorney general change the drug classification of marijuana? What are underlying policy issues that lead to questions over exactly what authority he has?

Under federal law, the attorney general can move to add, reschedule or remove drugs on his own, at the request of the health and human services secretary or in response to a public petition. But the law also requires the attorney general to gather data and scientific and medical evaluation from the HHS secretary before doing so.

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Can Eric Holder change the federal drug classification of ...

I think that Congress ultimately has to do that (reclassify marijuana). This is a topic that ultimately, I think ought to be engaged in by our nation, informed by the experiences that we see in Colorado, in Washington. There is, I think, a legitimate debate to be had on both sides of that question where marijuana ought to be in terms of its scheduling.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, National Press Club speech, Feb. 17, 2015

I am concerned, however, about your comments regarding the classification of marijuana As you know, you already have the statutory authority to reclassify marijuana.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), letterto Holder in response, Feb. 18, 2015

Holder was asked this questionat the National Press Club event about marijuana: Under the Controlled Substances Act, the administration has the power to reclassify marijuana with no further congressional action needed. Do you think that is something that the president should consider in the next couple years?

Legalization advocates pushed back to Holders answer after the event, especially after Cohen, a longtime advocate of rescheduling marijuana, sent his letter in response. Some advocates took to social media to criticize Holder for denying he has authority. They encouraged one another on Facebook and Twitter to flood Holders office with calls challenging his statement. They made another push asking him to reclassify marijuana, noting that President Obama has said that he does not believe marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol.

Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, meaning it is classified as the most harmful category of drugs, with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Advocates believe that if marijuana is taken out of that classification, it would clear the path for more research into the effects of marijuana and ultimately lead to legalization and regulation nationwide.

While Holders statement was an opinion, and something that cant easily be fact-checked, it is important to explore it, as well asCohens response. As more states look toward legalizing recreational marijuana, advocates are pushing back stronger on statements such as Holders. Twenty-three states have legalized medical marijuana. Alaska recentlybecame the third state to legalize marijuana, and D.C.s recreational marijuana law is set to take effect Feb. 26.

Can the attorney general change the drug classification of marijuana? What are underlying policy issues that lead to questions over exactly what authority he has?

Under federal law, the attorney general can move to add, reschedule or remove drugs on his own, at the request of the health and human services secretary or in response to a public petition. But the law also requires the attorney general to gather data and scientific and medical evaluation from the HHS secretary before doing so.

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Fact Checker: Can Eric Holder change the federal drug classification of marijuana?

Dont be surprised if outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder looks a bit youthful in his official portrait, set to be unveiled Friday afternoon.

Thats because Holder, who apparently adheres to the Boy Scouts motto be prepared, began planning for the portrait in April 2009, three months after taking over the job. And the portrait these things run around $40,000 or so was completed about a year later. (Unclear where its been waiting these past few years.)

This seems a bit unusual, but its not unprecedented.

At the Justice Department, the time between departure and unveiling is shorter than, say, at the State Department. Portrait unveilings for former secretaries of state Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright have occurred six to eight years after their departures. Hillary Clinton hasnt had hers hung yet.

But Holder did the honors for his predecessor Michael Mukasey about nine months after Mukasey left office, and former attorney general Alberto Gonzales unveiled predecessor John Ashcrofts painting just shy of two years after he left.

Holders portrait is going to be unveiled while hes still attorney general, since nominee Loretta Lynch, though approved Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, isnt likely to be confirmed by the full Senate for a couple of weeks.

Like Holder, Janet Reno, the second-longest serving attorney general, was still in office though with only five days to go before the Clinton administration ended when her portrait was unveiled.

Justice folks were suspiciously hush-hush this week about whos going to be doing the presentation. Naturally, it turns out to be President Obama.

(We should note that Congress, on a year-to-year basis, started banning the use of federal funds for these portraits. But there is no permanent ban.)

In the tank

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In the Loop: In the Loop: Portrait of (a younger) Eric Holder