I think that people, despite my law enforcement background, view me as taking these consistently progressive stands, and I think that, philosophically, there is a desire to get at that person. But I think the stands I have taken are totally consistent with a person who is looking at things realistically, factually.

In the wake of the murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. He earned an A. Holder stepped down from the bench in 1993 to accept an appointment as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from President Bill Clinton.

In that office he prosecuted Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (Democrat Illinois) for corruption charges related to his role in the Congressional Post Office scandal. Holder previously served as a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and a United States Attorney.