Holder Defends Clement; Compares Attacks Over DOMA Defense To Smears Of Gitmo Attorneys
While
he believes the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, Attorney General Eric Holder is defending former Solicitor General Paul Clement's decision to leave a prominent law firm over its decision to abandon its agreement to defend the statute in court on behalf of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
"Paul Clement's a great lawyer. He's done a lot of great things for this nation," Holder said in remarks to reporters today, as reported by NPR's Carrie Johnson. "I think he was doing that which lawyers do when we are at our best."
It was Holder's decision to no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA that set in motion the chain of events that ultimately led to Clement's involvement in the case. House Republicans were incensed by Holder's decision and decided that the House would defend the law in court, hiring Clement to handle the defense.
Holder compared the criticism of Clement over his decision to defend DOMA to criticism of Justice Department lawyers who had defended Guantanamo Bay detainees in habeas cases while in private practice.
Full article with the last two paragraphs containing quotes here:
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