Attorney General Eric Holder will announce on Thursday he plans to resign his position after nearly six years of service as the nation’s chief lawyer. He has agreed to hold his post until his successor can be confirmed.
Holder, the first African-American to hold the position, used his role to emphasize both voting and civil rights. During a 2009 speech for Black History Month, Holder called America “a nation of cowards” for its inability to speak frankly about racial tensions and injustices. He drew sharp rebukes from conservatives over the comment.
Holder was the first attorney general to be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. During his tenure, Holder frequently clashed with Republican lawmakers, many of whom took to social media to react to the news of his resignation.
Check out their responses below.