Bwog has just received word that President-elect Barack Obama has tapped a former Columbian Eric Holder, CC ’73 and J.D. ’76, to fill the shoes of yet another illustrious Columbia alum Michael Mukasey, CC ’63, as the next Attorney General of the United States.

You might remember Holder for his brief stint as acting Attorney General between January 20, 2001 and February 2, 2001 while the Senate delayed its confirmation of the controversial John Ashcroft, or perhaps even better for his more famous position as Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton administration from 1997 to early 2001 where he was at the center of the firestorm surrounding the controversial pardon of financier Mark Rich. You may even have noticed he’s a University Trustee.

While Holder remains to be vetted by the Obama administration and confirmed by the Senate, he looks to be the first African-American head of the Justice Department.  Bwog sends Mr. Holder its congratulations, and hopes for several more Columbians in the cabinet!