Obama Nominates Loretta Lynch to Replace Holder as AG

President Barack Obama has nominated Loretta Lynch, the Brooklyn prosecutor, to replace  Attorney General Eric Holder.

Lynch, 55, if selected , will be the first black woman to occupy this top position. Lynch is presently the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for the second time.

"Lynch is a strong, independent prosecutor who has twice led one of the most important U.S. attorney's offices in the country," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest in a statement Friday.

Lynch is a Harvard Law School graduate and was nominated to her current post by President Obama in 2010.

Obama's democratic party lost control of the Senate in the recent elections and it is unclear how the Republican Party will greet this announcement.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican touted to  become the Senate majority leader in January, promised Lynch will "receive fair consideration," reports the Businessweek.

If the present administration pushes to expedite the appointment of Lynch to the Attorney General post , it could lead to some trouble.  The new senate will take over in January 2015.

But the outgoing Attorney General indicated that he didn't expect a confirmation vote until next year and will stay in the post until then, reports the Businessweek.

Lynch is not  seen as a part of the White House circle, which might go in her favor with the Republicans.

The withdrawal of  former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler from contention led to Lynch's nomination.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli and Labor Secretary Tom Perez were two other names doing the rounds for the post.