Holder assures GOP on prosecution

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By Ben Conery and Eli Lake

EXCLUSIVE:

Eric H. Holder Jr.'s confirmation as attorney general is speeding toward approval thanks in part to his private assurances to a key Republican senator that he does not intend to prosecute intelligence agency interrogators for their actions during the prior administration.

The assurances, reported by Sen. Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Republican, to The Washington Times on Wednesday, went beyond Mr. Holder's earlier public testimony in which he said he could not prejudge his actions regarding cases he had not seen.

"I believe [Mr. Holder] will look forward to keep the nation safe and not look backwards to prosecute intelligence operators who were fighting terror and kept our country safe since 9/11," Mr. Bond said in the interview.

However, an aide to Mr. Holder who requested anonymity because the nominee has not been confirmed, disputed this version of events. "Eric Holder has not made any commitments about who would or would not be prosecuted," the aide said. "He explained his position to Senator Bond as he did in the public hearing and in his responses to written questions."

Still, Mr. Holder's private comments to Mr. Bond were important to moving his nomination forward. Mr. Bond was strongly considering blocking Mr. Holder's confirmation based on questions arising from some of Mr. Holder's public statements, a senior aide to Mr. Bond said.

But after meeting with Mr. Holder twice over the past week and having received assurances that he was not intent on pursuing intelligence officials who acted in good faith with proper authorization in the conduct of interrogations, Mr. Bond decided to support the nominee, the aide added.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to favorably recommend Mr. Holder, 58, for the post. The full Senate is expected to confirm Mr. Holder soon as the nation's first black attorney general.

The full Senate continued to fill out President Obama's national security team Wednesday, confirming by voice vote retired Adm. Dennis Blair to be director of national intelligence.

Mr. Blair last Thursday hinted strongly that he would forgo dealing with intelligence community interrogators through the courts.