WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin called Attorney General Eric Holder “a valuable ally” for Illinois and “an important partner in working to address gun violence in Chicago and East St. Louis.”
President Barack Obama accepted Holder’s resignation Thursday.
In a written statement, Durbin credited Holder for increasing federal law enforcement personnel and promoting youth mentoring and prisoner re-entry programs.
“He also played a key role in securing Thomson Federal Prison, which will help relieve overcrowding in our prison system and create good-paying jobs in my home state of Illinois,” Durbin said.
Durbin, a Democrat, is seeking his fourth U.S. Senate term against dairy entrepreneur and GOP state Sen. Jim Oberweis.
