George Holding

U.S. Attorney worried about 4th Circuit

markjohnson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:08:04 -0500

George Holding, the Republican-appointed U.S. attorney for North Carolina's eastern district, expressed some angst over changes in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which includes North Carolina.

Holding was attending the conservative Federalists Society annual convention in Washington last week when he stepped to the microphone to ask a question of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, National Law Journal reports.

"I'm concerned about the changing makeup of the 4th Circuit," said Holding, who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush.

Sessions said he was bothered by the criminal case rulings of a Maryland nominee but indicated Republicans are not eager to block many judges.

"We've resisted filibusters of judges, thinking it's not a good idea," Sessions said.

U.S. Attorney will look for new charges

bniolet — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:24:25 -0400

CHARGE ON: U.S. Attorney George Holding, saying he believes it is "outrageous" that the state overlooked laws requiring it to release 20 violent offenders with life sentences, said he will look for federal charges that could keep the inmates behind bars. (N&O)

NOT BORED: A year after losing re-election, former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole spends her days working through her foundation and caring for her ailing husband, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. (N&O)

AFFAIR TO REMEMBER? The head of the highway patrol, who is charged with ending a string of sexual misconduct cases involving troopers, had an extra-marital affair in 1987. Commander Randy Glover says he has paid his dues and corrected his 20-year-old mistakes. (N&O)

Is Hagan Democratic enough?

bniolet — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:18:38 -0400

Democratic commentator Barlow Herget raises the question whether Sen. Kay Hagan has shown the proper amount of loyalty to the Democratic agenda in Washington.

Herget, a former Raleigh City Councilman who has his own Internet radio program, notes that Hagan expressed reservations about President Barack Obama’s stimulus package, has shown "tepid support" for Obama’ health care plan, and has not replaced U.S. Attorney George Holding, who has been investigating former Gov. Mike Easley and former Sen. John Edwards, both Democrat, Rob Christensen reports.

Herget quotes an unnamed "seasoned Democratic consultant" as saying "If I had wanted another Republican in Washington, I would have voted for one."

He notes that Hagan was helped in her victory last November over Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole by a strong turnout by Obama supporters and received millions of dollars in campaign help from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Hagan submits names for U.S. attorney

bkrueger — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:39:27 -0400

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan wants to keep Republican U.S. Attorney George Holding on, for now, to continue his investigation into former Gov. Mike Easley.

But she submitted names to President Barack Obama for a new person to handle all other, non-Easley-related matters in the Eastern District, reports Barb Barrett.

Among Hagan’s recommendations for the U.S. attorney Eastern District, based in Raleigh, are well-known lawyers Benjamin David, Hampton Dellinger and Thomas Walker, according to a release from Hagan's office.

David is District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties. Dellinger, a partner in the law firm of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, has experience working with local, state and federal law enforcement. Walker, a partner at Alston and Bird, LLP, concentrates on complex federal and state government investigations and white-collar defense.

A newly elected president traditionally appoints new federal prosecutors from his own party based on recommendations from senators. Any nominee must be confirmed by the Senate.

In her letter to Obama about the situation, Hagan wrote:

“As I have previously discussed with the Office of the White House Counsel, it is my belief that the current U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, George Holding, should be allowed to complete the ongoing investigations of public officials in the state.”

She continued: “During my conversations with the Office of the White House Counsel, there was an interest expressed by the Counsel’s office to potentially appoint a separate individual to begin handling other matters not related to these investigations. Should you decide to do so, the following names are provided for your consideration.”

Holding has been investigating Easley’s ties to campaign donors and other prominent North Carolina leaders. Just this week he issued subpoenas seeking records related to the Department of Motor Vehicles under Easley’s watch.

Document(s):
KRH Final Federal Nominations.pdf

Dome Memo: Ethics edition

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:08:14 -0400

NOT LEAVING: The heat is on former First Lady Mary Easley. With the chancellor and provost of N.C. State University appearing before a grand jury to testify about how they came to hire the wife of former Gov. Mike Easley, UNC president Erskine Bowles and Chancellor Jim Oblinger called for her to resign. No dice, said Easley. Or rather, said her attorney, Marvin Schiller, at a press conference Thursday.

STILL ON: The former governor's ongoing troubles aren't hurting everyone. With President Barack Obama in the White House, some Democrats had hoped to name a new U.S. attorney in Raleigh. But U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, who has dibs on the naming rights, said she's asking Republican George Holding to stay on the job at least until he finishes investigations into Easley and the campaign finances of former Sen. John Edwards.

ALMOST OVER? After nearly a month of controversy, the flap over state Rep. Cary Allred's stop by police and subsequent hug of a page has not yet died down. The House sergeant at arms released a report this week detailing the reactions of his Republican colleagues who sat nearby on the night in question. "A gruesome bear hug," said one. Allred said he sees the page "like my granddaughter" and that she and her parents found nothing wrong had happened.

IN OTHER NEWS: Gov. Beverly Perdue ordered the State Highway Patrol to keep better records of its travel with the governor and lieutenant governor after some of Easley's records went missing. ... U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is playing a lead role on Republican efforts to present an alternative to Obama's health care plan. ... One-time Speaker of the House Dan Blue was sworn in to the state Senate, but won't say if he's interested in the U.S. Senate. ... Democrats can't seem to find a candidate to run against Burr in 2010.

Hagan: Holding should stay

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:40:55 -0400

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan said today that federal prosecutor George Holding should stay on the job until investigations of former Sen. John Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley are completed.

She said she has been in talks with the White House and that she wants to eliminate politics from the process of replacing a U.S. Attorney, Andy Curliss reports.

"It is not in North Carolina's best interest to replace" Holding right now, she said.

Holding is overseeing the two high-profile probes that have been the subject of recent news reports.

Her comments come a day after the resignation of one member of a three-person screening panel that Hagan established to winnow candidates for the top prosecutors' positions in North Carolina.

Locke Clifford, a criminal defense lawyer from Greensboro, stepped down on Tuesday but did not cite a reason. Hagan said he has not been involved in screening for a replacement of Holding.

The panel had been expecting to interview candidates last week and this one, according to the panel's chairman, Burley Mitchell. Mitchell is a former chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court and now a lawyer at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice in Raleigh.

Clifford has not returned calls or made comments. But Clifford's vehicle was spotted at the Easley home on Tuesday.

Clifford was replaced with Jim Phillips.

Quick Hits

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:01:48 -0400

* By percent, how much N.C. likes recent presidents in a poll: Reagan (44), Obama (29), Clinton (18), W. Bush (6), H.W. Bush (3).

* Liberal commentator Chris Fitzsimon, among others, takes issue with N&O/Char-O story about a "liberal shift" in the state legislature.

* Greensboro News-Record columnist Doug Clark argues that George Holding should be allowed to stay on the Easley, Edwards cases.

* U.S. Sen. Richard Burr finds "being the minority is liberating" because the majority sets the agenda and he can "delve into policy."

GOP: Keep Holding on the job

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:25:18 -0400

While Democrats may be counting the days until U.S. Attorney George Holding leaves, the Republicans are urging President Barack Obama to keep him on the job.

Holding, a Republican appointee, has prosecuted a series of Democrats and his office is now investigating allegations involving former Sen. John Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley, both Democrats, Rob Christensen reports.

"Now is not the right time for a change in leadership at the U.S Attorney's office," said state GOP chair Linda Daves. "George Holding has shown himself to be competent, fair and evenhanded in rooting out and prosecuting corruption in state government."

U.S. attorneys are political patronage appointments that usually change hands when the White House changes parties. Holding, a protege of the late Sen. Jesse Helms, got his job after Bill Clinton left office and George W. Bush came in. (Frank Whitney preceded Holding as U.S attorney under Bush. He's now a federal district judge in Charlotte.)

Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan has appointed a panel, headed by former Chief Justice Burley Mitchell, to recommend federal prosecutors for the three districts in North Carolina. Hagan will recommended her choices to Obama.

But the state Republican Party argues that Holding doesn’t just go after Democrats. They note that he also prosecuted such Republicans as former U.S. Attorney Sam Currin and former state Sen. John Carrington.

Quick Hits

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:07:11 -0400

* An anti-torture coalition is seeking to disbar Davidson College graduate William J. Haynes II, among others, for Bush-administration memos.

* The anonymous backer of a "Draft Coop" blog tries to determine who he should support now that Attorney General Roy Cooper is out of the Senate race.

* Between opening day and the crossover deadline, 303 Senate bills and 424 House bills passed, including substanial numbers during crossover week itself.

* It will be tricky for Democrats to replace U.S. Attorney George Holding in the middle of an investigation into former Gov. Mike Easley.

U.S. attorneys to stay for now

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:55:24 -0500

The U.S. attorneys will stay in their jobs a while longer.

An e-mail from Ken Melson, director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, to federal prosecutors around the country has asked them to remain in their positions temporarily.

"We appreciate your continued service to the Department and to the country," it reads.

U.S. attorneys are usually appointed by the incoming president in consultation with the senator or senators from the same party.

President Bill Clinton fired all but one sitting U.S. attorneys on his first day in office, and the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys recently urged President-elect Barack Obama to keep some incumbents in place.

Eastern District U.S. Attorney George Holding said he would be pleased to continue serving.

"It is a real honor and privilege to serve the people of Eastern North Carolina, and I would commit to serving for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition," he told Dome.

As a mid-term appointee, Holding's term officially ends in September of 2010.