This is one that has been simmering since the middle of March. We finally take a stab at it with today's Fact Check in the 13th congressional district Republican primary.

George E.B. Holding, the top federal prosecutor in Raleigh since 2006, has resigned the post and is not ruling out a candidacy to become North Carolina's attorney general next year.

Holding announced his resignation today as U.S. Attorney in Raleigh, effective July 8.

In an interview today, Holding told The News & Observer that he would consider all options for his next job, including making a challenge for the state's top law enforcement position.

Holding is a Republican.

Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has held the position since winning election in 2000.

The top federal prosecutor for the eastern third of North Carolina is expected to be replaced with a conclusion to the investigation of John Edwards, whose actions are under review by a grand jury.

An indictment or plea could come in the Edwards case by the end of this week, marking the beginning of a pre-trial phase for the case.

Republican George Holding has been in the job since 2006. President Obama has already nominated a replacement, Thomas Walker of Charlotte, who still must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, said in a statement Wednesday to the News & Observer: "I am looking forward to [Walker] being the next U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District -- as soon as the investigation is complete."

Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, has been "aware of the progress being made" and also backs Walker for the job, said a spokesman, David Ward.

By federal sentencing standards, Ruffin Poole caught a break Tuesday when U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle gave him a one-year prison term for hiding $55,000 in profits he reaped as part of insider deals that allowed him to benefit from his position as a top aide to former Gov. Mike Easley.

The sentence was one day above the minimum for a crime that Poole admitted committing in order to get more than 50 other charges dropped, and spared him at least another six months in prison. The penalty could have been harsher still if Boyle decided to treat the income tax evasion as a bribery case.

But when it came time to exit the federal courthouse, some of the roughly 30 supporters, nearly all of them in suits and ties, acted as if Poole were the victim of a kangaroo court. They formed a wedge in front of Poole and his wife, pushing and grabbing reporters and cameramen who sought to interview him as the couple made their way to a waiting SUV.

U.S. Attorney George Holding said he's seen better behavior from the families and supporters of violent criminals sentenced to much stiffer prison terms.

"In 10 years here I've never seen behavior like that," Holding said.

A Knightdale man has been sentenced to 53 months in prison for money laundering.

Kimithi "Kippy" Davis, who operated Pro Bowl Mortgage and Pro Bowl Consulting, was also ordered to pay restitution of $2,045,854, U.S. Attorney George Holding's office announced in a release.

Davis was charged April 1 with money laundering and pleaded guilty eight days later. Authorities accused him of helping customers secure personal and business loans and real estate financing by submitting false information to lenders.

The case was part of Operation Stolen Dreams, a nationwide law enforcement effort to identify and prosecute civil and criminal cases against those involved in mortgage fraud.

Neither Davis or his business had a brokerage license, Holding's office said.

“Individuals like the defendant were the tip of the spear in helping to facilitate the sham financial transactions that are at the heart of the mortgage-fraud crisis plaguing our nation’s economy," Holding said in the release.

A four-year term expires today for the top federal prosecutor in the eastern part of North Carolina.

But George E.B. Holding, whose office is overseeing investigations that involve former Gov. Mike Easley and former Sen. John Edwards, is likely to remain on the job for a while longer.

How long isn't clear.

Lawyers for convicted former state lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings are preparing documents to seek his immediate release from a prison in Georgia and they want to have his 2006 conviction thrown out, all as a result of Thursday's rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court that imposed limits on the "honest services" fraud law.

"We are working on an emergency application," Geddings lawyer Jonathan Edelstein said in an interview. "We are not wasting any time."

The announcement Thursday by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican,
that he would hold up the replacement of U.S. Attorney George Holding,
a Bush appointee, will likely quiet the political maneuvering around
the top federal prosecutor job from Raleigh to the coast well into 2010.

It has been an interesting political story, and we break it down here.

It now appears current U.S. Attorney George Holding will be around a little longer. President Obama had nominated a replacement -- the first one out of the three federal prosecutor posts in North Carolina -- for Holding, who is overseeing probes of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley.

Today, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr said he will use a Senate procedure to keep Holding on the job.

The U.S. Attorney in Raleigh, George Holding, a Bush appointee, reiterated in an interview today that he will stay on the job until someone is installed to replace him. But that time table just became more certain -- a new prosecutor is now likely within 60 to 90 days.

The White House is moving to replace Holding, nominating Charlotte lawyer Thomas Walker for the top prosecutor post in the eastern part of North Carolina.

That news has led to many questions about how the transition will take place as Holding leads probes of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat who recommended Walker for the post, says she thinks Holding should stay on until his probes are complete. State Republicans are urging her to reconsider.

It's not clear what will happen. The White House isn't talking. It is clear, though, that things are moving quickly -- and quicker -- on this post now. The other two U.S. Attorney posts in the state have not had nominees announced. And in all, Holding is now part of the one-third of the roughly 100 federal prosecutors positions across the country to have replacement nominations or confirmations.

For his part, Holding won't even acknowledge the investigations exist. Edwards and Easley both have, though, and last month the state elections board said evidence suggests Easley committed crimes while in office. A state prosecutor is now involved, as a result.

Holding, whose term runs until September, said in the interview he will stay until he is replaced but he did not express alarm at having to go.

"It is the president's choice," Holding said. "The new U.S. Attorney is going to take the same oath that I took. I am confident he will do his best to uphold the oath... I intend to do the best job I can do until such time as I am replaced by the president."

And he said he has not had any conversations with anyone about possibly staying on, as Hagan has suggested. He refused to elaborate.

Walker has said he is honored to be nominated.