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Republicans in the Senate are planning to use their first high-profile confirmation hearing to put Eric Holder on trial.

GOP lawmakers plan to use Wednesdays examination of Loretta Lynch, the federal prosecutor picked by President Obama to replace Holder as attorney general, to air long-standing grievances with the Obama administration.

I think theres an erosion of confidence in the Department of Justice on the fundamental question of whether the attorney general politicizes the office, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said Tuesday. We need an attorney general that wont politicize the office.

But while GOP lawmakers are relishing the opportunity to sink their teeth into Holders record, they also concede Lynch barring any misstep is likely to be confirmed.

Her reputation as being tough on crime has won praise from both sides of the aisle, with Fox News Host Bill OReilly calling her a hero last week, leaving the White House confident shell win over the Senate.

One aide said Tuesday the White House was looking forward to Mrs. Lynch showing the Senate Judiciary Committee and the American public just why she is so qualified for this position.

While Lynchs nomination appears assured, as Democrats need only a handful of Republicans to cross the aisle and support her nomination, she might have trouble staying out of the partisan crossfire at her confirmation hearing.

Republicans will be looking for areas where Lynch will demonstrate distance from Holder, who remains anathema to many on the right, and intend to ask her how she plans to do things differently.

The Justice Department is a big mess, said Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and we want to know how shes going to straighten out the department.

One of the biggest points of contention will undoubtedly be immigration on the heels of the presidents announcement late last year that he would use prosecutorial discretion to defer deportation for up to 5 million illegal immigrants.

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GOP seizes chance to put Holder on trial