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.
Nominee Thomas Walker, a Charlotte attorney, had been expected to be confirmed sometime in February, though U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, had been expressing her desire to keep Holding on to complete his oversight of ongoing probes of former Gov. Mike Easley and former Sen. John Edwards, echoing public polls. Easley and Edwards are Democrats.
The Edwards case actually is likely at an end. Edwards' attorney has said he expects a resolution on Edwards by the end of the year. The key figures in that case were before the grand jury months ago.
The Easley probe is still very active, with subpoenas being issued and grand jury work under way each month.
Hagan, who plays a key role in the nominating process because she is in the same political party as the president, had not publicly said whether she would use Senate procedures to hold up the replacement.
Burr at first indicated he wouldn't do that, but then came his announcement Thursday.
For his part, Holding has not even confirmed or denied the investigations exisited, and has said all along that he will remain until he is replaced, adding that his position is one that serves at the will of the president.
Here's a recap of the twists and turns as the situation unfolded:
March 30: Hagan forms three-person panel to help her screen for federal justice appointments.
May 3: Edwards, in a statement to the News & Observer, acknowledges he is the subject of a federal investigation probing campaign finance matters.
May 15: Following a two-part series in The News & Observer, federal agents begin serving subpoenas on several state agencies and N.C. State University, revealing a wide-ranging inquiry surrounding former Gov. Mike Easley.
May 17: Hagan says in the N&O that she wants to "go forward ... within the next few weeks" on replacing Holding. She says it is not related to probes. "But we're certainly trying to move forward."
May 20: Hagan reverses and says it's in the state's best interest for Holding to stay as prosecutor until the probes are over and that she has consulted the White House.
"It is my feeling that George Holding should stay on until these investigations are over with," she says.
July 11: Hagan forwards three potential nominees to Obama, but repeats in a letter to him that Holding should stay. Hagan endorses a possible split duty arrangement, saying a replacement could begin handling other work in the U.S. Attorney's office while Holding
oversees the corruption probes.
July (no date known): Burr sends letter to Obama. Doesn't release contents.
Oct. 31: The state elections board votes unanimously in determining that evidence suggests Easley broke laws while in office. His campaign also broke laws, the board finds, and it is fined $100,000. Case referred to a state prosecutor.
Nov. 17: Holding makes news with comments at the conservative Federalist Society's annual convention, expressing concern about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which includes North Carolina. "I'm concerned about the changing makeup of the 4th
Circuit," Holding says, echoing concerns about a more liberal bent from Obama nominees.
Nov. 30: Obama announces Charlotte attorney Thomas Walker as his choice to replace Holding, subject to Senate confirmation. Walker is the first nominee announced by Obama for the three federal prosecutor posts in North Carolina.
Dec. 2: Hagan refuses comment on whether she will take action to hold up Walker's confirmation. She reiterates that she wants Holding to stay on the job.
Dec. 4: Burr indicates he won't hold up process for Walker, with a spokesman saying he will move ahead. Statewide poll says 76 percent of North Carolinians want Holding to finish,
even when told it is traditional for a new president to appoint a new prosecutor.
Dec. 8: Hagan talks with Attorney General Eric Holder and repeats that she wants Holding to complete the probes. Does not say publicly whether she will try to hold up the nomination.
Dec. 10: Burr changes tack, says he supports Walker, but will use Senate procedure to block confirmation until Holding completes his work. Holding's official term ends in Sept. 2010.
J. Andrew Curliss covered state and local politics and government for The News & Observer for more than a decade before joining the investigative team in December 2008.
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