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Although the attorney general is a part of the president's team, you're really separate and apart. You have a special responsibility as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. There has to be a distance that you keep - between this department and the White House.
Eric Holder
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The attorney general must maintain independence from the president to uphold justice effectively.

This quote by Eric Holder emphasizes the distinct role of the attorney general as the chief law enforcement officer of the nation. Despite being part of the president's team, the attorney general has a unique responsibility to ensure that the laws are enforced fairly and without political influence, highlighting the importance of maintaining a professional distance from political power.

Themes

JusticeIndependenceLawResponsibilityLeadership

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the importance of the rule of law.

More from Eric Holder

While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma, he was refused service at a couple of places where he was in uniform, and was told that African Americans, blacks, Negros, were not served. And in spite of that, I've never known a man who loved this country more than my father did.
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In a lot of ways, civil rights division is the conscience of the Justice Department. You can almost measure what kind of Justice Department you have by what kind of civil rights division that you have.
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One of the things I learned is that you've got to deal with the underlying social problems if you want to have an impact on crime - that it's not a coincidence that you see the greatest amount of violent crime where you see the greatest amount of social dysfunction.
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Those who peacefully gather to express sympathy for the family of Michael Brown must have their rights respected at all times. And journalists must not be harassed or prevented from covering a story that needs to be told.
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