hundreds of justice department staff and lawyers gathered in the great hall of the robert f. kennedy building friday to give the nation's first african-american attorney general a send-off.









it was a more tightly-scripted version of the thunderous welcome he received in 2009 when holder entered the building. the goodbye ceremony included a nine-minute video lauding the attorney general for his six-year tenure.









"i think we can say now eric holder is free," the attorney general said to laughs, after tossing to the crowd wristbands he has been wearing as he waited months for his successor, loretta lynch, to win senate approval . the wristbands, the idea of an aide, were an inside joke that read "free eric holder."









holder was tearful, shaking hands, hugging and taking selfies with some of the crowd, which numbered about 200.









this was his third going-away ceremony -- one in february included president barack obama and a performance by aretha franklin. as in his speech when he took office six years ago, holder laid claim to helping restore the justice department's reputation, a tacit shot at the bush administration and the political scandal that hung over former attorney general alberto gonzales after the firings of u.s. attorneys. holder said he was proud of the department's work, which he said was done "free of politicization." he told the justice staffers they were responsible for a new "golden age" at the justice department. he cited the department's role in the obama administration's decision to stop defending the defense of marriage act, which has quickened the acceptance of same-sex marriage. he called same-sex marriage the "civil rights issue of our time." he also lauded the department's active role in civil rights enforcement, which has become a major focus in light of a national spate of police shootings and excessive use-of-force incidents. while holder listed his accomplishments, much of the ceremony also served as a reminder of the rocky relationship he has had with republicans, who made him the first sitting cabinet member to be held in contempt of congress and who regularly used him as the stand-in to take shots at president obama in political fights. u.s. attorney general eric holder attends a meeting with the my brother's keeper task force to receive a 90-day report on its progress in the roosevelt room of the white house in may 2014. holder's resignation was announced in september 2014, but his replacement, loretta lynch, was not confirmed by the senate until april 23, 2015. holder talks with his father, eric holder sr., after being sworn in as the u.s. attorney for the district of columbia in 1993. holder shakes hands with then-president bill clinton as attorney general janet reno, holder's boss, looks on at an american bar association event at the white house in 1999. holder walks with caroline kennedy, daughter of former president john f. kennedy, in june 2008 after they were tasked with searching for a running mate for then-sen. barack obama. holder is sworn in as attorney general by vice president joe biden in february 2009. holder's wife, dr. sharon malone, is by his side. holder announces in november 2009 that five men accused of the september 11 terror attacks would be tried in a new york civilian court. he said the government would seek the death penalty against khalid sheikh mohammed and four others. holder is greeted by members of congress as he arrives at the u.s. house of representatives in may 2010. holder answers a student's question after a speech commemorating the 100th anniversary of the duquesne university school of law in february 2011. holder talks to reporters after meeting with u.s. rep. darrell issa, chairman of the house oversight and government reform committee, in june 2012. issa and holder met to discuss releasing documents related to the botched fast and furious investigation. holder takes questions at a news conference in may 2013. he said he recused himself from a national security leak investigation in which prosecutors obtained the phone records of associated press journalists. holder leaves after speaking of his disappointment in a supreme court ruling that declared a key part of the voting rights act unconstitutional in june 2013. holder talks with capt. ron johnson of the missouri state highway patrol in ferguson, missouri, in august 2014. holder traveled to ferguson to oversee the federal government's investigation into a police officer's shooting of 18-year-old michael brown. holder wipes away tears in september 2014 as his resignation is announced by president barack obama in washington. holder, who led the department of justice for six years, stayed in the position until his replacement, loretta lynch, was confirmed. holder testifies at a senate judiciary committee hearing on thursday, january 29, on oversight of the justice department and reform of government surveillance programs. holder and his wife, sharon malone, look on as artist simmie knox unveils holder's official portrait during a ceremony at the justice department in washington on friday, february 27. holder delivers remarks about the shooting of two police officers in ferguson, missouri, at the department of justice in washington on thursday, march 12.
eric holder bids farewell to justice department
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