The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Tuesday endorsed Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to replace Eric Holder as President Barack Obama’s attorney general.
‘Secretary Perez has a proven record of championing and defending the rights of all Americans,’ said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas. ‘The CHC supported Tom Perez in his nomination to the Department of Labor, and the caucus will continue to support him if he is formally nominated to the position of U.S. Attorney General. We hope Secretary Perez will be the president’s nominee of choice to head the Department of Justice.’
The 27-member caucus added its voice to immigration advocacy organizations and labor groups in urging Obama to nominate Perez, a former assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Obama has been mum on who’ll replace Holder, who announced his resignation last month. White House officials are anticipating a difficult confirmation battle over Holder’s replacement, especially if Republicans win the Senate in next Tuesday’s elections.
And a Perez nomination would likely be a particularly bruising affair on Capitol Hill. He barely squeezed by on a 54-46 vote for the labor post.