lynch to be the attorney general of the united states of america. that office is a part of the president's cabinet but it also is an office that is the chief law officer for america and it the top official in our government is required to adhere to the law, even to the point of telling the president "no" if he gets it in his head, as presidents sometimes do, to do something that violates the law. -- as corporate lawyers do for the c.e.o. of corporations. mr. president, you can't do this. this is wrong. don't do this. and at some point attorney generals have been none to resign before they would carry out policies that violate the law. so we are deeply concerned in this country about the president's executive amnesty the unlawfulness of it, the breadth of it the arrogance of it to the point that it's a direct assault on congressional power and legitimacy direct attack on laws passed by the peoples' representatives and we've got a big problem. ms. lynch has said, flat-out, that she supports those policies and is committed to defending them in court ag

attorney loretta lynch confirmed today by the u.s. senate to be the next attorney general, replacing eric holder. that vote, 56-43, five months approximately after president obama nominated loretta lynch for the attorney general position. ms. lynch will become the first african-american woman to hold the post in the united states. 10 republicans joined with democrats today in voting for loretta lynch, joining with all democrats. kelly ayotte, thad cochran, susan collins, jeff flake lindsey graham. orrin hatch, ron johnson, mark kirk, mitch mcconnell and rob portman. just one senator did not vote -- ted cruz of texas. he was on the floor today in opposition to the nomination, but he did not take part in the confirmation vote. ashley parker of "the new york times" wrote "after railing against loretta lynch, ted cruz escapes confirmation vote." "where in the world was senator ted cruz? " he voted against a procedural motion to move ahead. mr. cruz missed her final vote on thursday afternoon. the reason? he had to catch a flight to texas

lynch's confirmation. we have before us a nominee with impeccable credentials to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. and during her confirmation, senator leahy and -- i think you were there mr. president -- asked a panel of witnesses who were pro and supposedly con to raise their hands in they opposed her. not a single witness raised their hand. to me, that spoke volumes. even republicans who will vote against her because they disagree with the president praise her credentials and personal qualifications. and -- but despite all that, the senate subjected her to i think an inexcusable delay. and it's particularly sensitive because this would be the first african-american woman as attorney general in the history of the united states. and if you look at race relations today and the impartial and important role that the department of justice plays, it seems to me that her appointment may well be the most important possible appointment at this particular point in time. her nomination has been p

lynch is -- ms. lynch's nomination. no one disputes that she has an impressive legal background. it was her testimony before the committee that caused concerns for many senators, including me after thoroughly reviewing that testimony, i concluded that she won't lead the department in a different direction. and that is very unfortunate because after six years of attorney general holder's leadership, the department desperately needs a change in direction. i would just like to remind my democratic colleagues that it wasn't too long ago that a majority of democrats voted against judgment khazei -- not based on his record, but instead based upon his testimony before the committee. in fact, then senator obama had this to say about the judge -- quote -- while his legal credentials are strong, his views on two critical and related matters are, in my view, disqualified. i asked ms. lynch about her views on the irs scandal and other waste the department has been politicized. she didn't demonstrate that she is -- that she would do things differently. instead, she gave nonanswers. she was el

lynch's confirmation. we have before us a nominee with impeccable credentials to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. and during her confirmation, senator leahy and -- i think you were there, mr. president -- asked a panel of witnesses who were pro and supposedly con, to raise their hands if they opposed her. not a single witness raised their hand. to me, that spoke volumes. even republicans who will vote against her because they disagree with the president praise her credentials and personal qualifications. and -- but despite all that, the senate subjected her to i think an inexcusable delay. and it's particularly sensitive because this would be the first african-american woman as attorney general in the history of the united states. and if you look at race relations today and the impartial and important role that the department of justice plays, it seems to me that her appointment may well be the most important possible appointment at this particular point in time. her nomination has been

lynch became the first nomination to become filibustered. the editorial from the newspaper is really insulting, mr. president. they said that reid accuse republicans of racism and sexism. i dare people to find a word when i said race or sex. i did not do that. it is maybe some of the republicans hoped i did not do that. there was even a hunger strike. listen to this. that is the depth of this editorial from "the wall street journal." "reverend al sharpton had a hunger strike until he received -- she received a vote. they have in parenthesis, please go through with it. i guess i was naive in thinking that my republican college would treat loretta lynch with the dignity that she and her office deserve. perhaps my mistake was forgetting that for republicans it is not about loretta lynch. it is about president obama. republicans will do everything they can to make president obama's life more difficult. they said they would do that when he was elected and that ey have stuck with it. president obama's cabinet officials have been treated worse than

lynch recalls riding on reverend lynch's shoulders to their church, where students organized peaceful protests against racial segregation. the freedom songs and church music that went hand in hand with those protests undoubtedly made up the soundtrack of her childhood. as attorney general, i'm sure she'll draw upon those childhood experiences and the struggles of her parents, her grandparents her great-grandparents when addressing the current protests over too many young lives lost in our streets. as i said, the judiciary committee was honored to have her father, the reverend lorenzo lynch, with us on both days of her hearing in january. at the c

but what hasn't happened a vote on loretta lynch.ending decisions that this nation is facing that they need a focused justice department to tend to. they are stalling they are making excuses, they are fabricating reasons not to confirm someone they had no questions about, someone they've confirmed twice before as u.s. attorney in local districts. it is a shame and a sham and it needs to stop now. thanks for watching. i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. >>> democrats at war. let's play "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm chris matthews in san francisco. for seven years, the democratic party has held strong. neither the bad blood of that year's primary season or the day-to-day issues have cut through its unity, until now. until the battle that will rise up next week the battle of international trade, as it has in each political generation the matter of how this country

as long as they refuse to vote on loretta lynch. eric holder is the current ag.nd they made him wait for eight days, after his hearings for eight days on the floor of the senate. before eric holder, the attorney general was michael mukasi. before that was it was alberto gonzalez before that jan ashcroft before that jarrett reno dick thornburg.g;zx and one of the things about loretta lynch. if you take all the time the last seven attorney general nominees had to wait on the senate floor for a vote, if you take all their wait time combined, and then double it loretta lynch has waited longer than that. she has waited more than five months without getting a vote in the senate. eric holder, eight days. loretta lynch, five months and counting. senate republicans will not schedule a vote on her. and republicans are in control of the senate so what can you do? today senator harry reid told me even though republicans are in control and democrats are not and he is a democrat he told me today that he has a trick up his sleeve which he thinks will let him and the democrats f

i will be loretta lynch. i would refer you to my record as united states attorney on two occasions as well as a practicing lawyer to see the independence and that i have always brought to every particular matter. i certainly think that going forward, while i'm not familiar with the particulars of the issues that you raise they clearly are of concern to you and perhaps to this committee. and i do pledge to this committee that i want to hear your concerns. i want to listen to your concerns and i will always be open to discussing those issues with you. senator i'm sure that as we go forward, should i be confirmed while there it would be wonderful to think that you agree with everything that i do, that may not be the case. >> you may not agree with everything we do. >> that is perfectly appropriate. senator i will always be open to discussing with you why i have done something and basis for which i have made an action to the extent i'm able to do so. i found to be the most effective way of not just for me in term

this vote on loretta lynch was never about loretta lynch. it was about the democrats trying to push their agenda in the senate and the republicans trying to fight them on it. if you look at it one of the reasons this vote is coming up is because the democrats finally caved on trying to push government-funded abortions and human trafficking bill. now that the democrats have given up on that, the senate republicans are giving a vote on loretta lynch. she is the best we can expect out of president obama for an attorney general. he will never have an objective constitutionalist in that position. it will be another liberal pushing obama's agenda and covering for president obama covering his rear end. host: check from michigan on the line for independents. good morning. caller: good morning. i am calling and i don't have my tv on so i cannot hear you. i am calling about you and the girl yesterday. i sit and watch them every time. somebody has something to say but if they are not bashing obama, you cut them off short. i watch this everyday. host: w

and one of the things about loretta lynch. if you take all the time the last nominees in to wait on the senate floor for a vote and you take the wait time con bined and double it, loretta lynch has waited longer than that. she has waited longer than five months without getting a vote in the senate. loretta lynch, five months and counting. senate republicans will not schedule a vote on her. and they are in charge of the senate. what can you do. and senator harry reid told me that republicans are in control and democrats are not, and he is a democrat, he has a trick up his sleeve, that will allow him and the democrats to force a vote on loretta lynch, really? watch. one thing that has not been done and a historic delay, the nomination of loretta lynch to be the next attorney general of the united states. what is going on there? >> the first part of may, she will have been in limbo, in purgatory six months. and we had republicans, mccain, mcconnell, saying what a good women she was. they are not allowing a vote. we are basing it

>> reporter: durham activist has known loretta lynch since loretta lynch was a child. >> i don't want epidermis but some people are thinking that was. >> reporter: ahead of the black caucus who told reporters in march i think race can certainly be considered as a major factor in the reason for this delay but it's also the irrationality of the new republicans. illinois senator dick doucher seemingly invoked once image of segregated south in support of the gop. >> loretta lynch, the first african-american woman nominated to be attorney general is asked to sit in the back of the bus when it comes to the senate calendar. >> reporter: durham was harshly criticized by arizona senator john mccain. >> it was offensive and unnancy i think he owes this body, miss lynch, and all americans, an apology. >> i thought he should be commended. >> reporter: you think he should be commended? >> yes. >> reporter: you think that is the appropriate characterization? >> i think it is a poetic strings of what is happened. >> reporter: republican senators adamantly admit a vote is being delayed because lynch

on loretta lynch. we had the filibuster on the nomination of her to be attorney general of the united states. the good news is we ended the filibuster. the bad news is the first time in our nation's history that we had to overcome a filibuster for an attorney general nominee. of either party. 82 prior attorneys general going back to george washington straight through. not one of them has been treated the way loretta lynch has been treated. but those who know her strengths -- and i've gotten to know what a strong and good woman this is from her time as u.s. attorneys straight through her confirmation hearing. a confirmation hearing incidentally for those supposed to have brought witnesses and when i asked them are there any of you who were vote against her, not a single hand went up. see, i know her strength. i know she has persevered through much more difficult circumstances in her life. i believe this would make her even stronger. but i do hope after this extended delay -- and i'll leave with this --

lynch for approval. let us not leave washington in week without voting on loretta lynch to be our next attorney general. i voted for her in committee and will proudly support her nomination in the hopes that it will come to the floor this weefnlgt mr. president i yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of s. 178, which the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 26, s. 178 a bill to provide justice for the victims of trafficking. mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president i realize the devil is always in the details and i see the distinguished senior s

the whole point of a lynch mob is extrajudicial violence. it's what happened to this man, what happened in charleston south carolina. let's not use it for anybody right now. let's have an honest transparent process. people are angry this man is dead. there's no lynch mob out there. >> you heard our reporters using words like tense and angry. part of what he's referring to i think what happened live on this program last night. for people that didn't see it let me show you what happened to our reporter who was on the streets last night. >> reporter: very much with the protesters. these young men are angry. >> [ bleep ]. >> straight up. >> [ bleep ]. >> obviously the choice of the words lynch mob, i don't think it's possible for anyone to defend that unless you want to. please step up and do it. i think obviously what happened live on this program last night was not acceptable either. >> we're seeing political failure. i don't know what the mayor is doing down there, ten days 12 days, nobody has a clear accounting of what happened. it's predict

here's an example of when i'm anti-lynch.ou've all heard about the devastating case of freddie gray, the 25-year-old who died of spinal injuries he sustained while being arrested in baltimore. here's how cops are sweet-talking the protesters. >> protesters hurled insults at police. they were incensed by the head of baltimore's fraternal order of police who likened them to a lynch mob. (audience reacts) >> larry: are you kidding me, police? you had one job! to "not" use the words "lynch mob!" you should know that, it's right there on your cars! that's literally the worst thing you could possibly say when you're trying to ease tensions. but they did to try to smooth it over. >> at a press conference wednesday, gene ryan tried to walk back that comment. >> maybe i should reword that. i don't want it to turn into a lynch mob. >> larry: oh, so it's a timing issue. they're still a lynch mob they're just not one yet. they should give you the mop to the city, because let me tell you something, sir, you cleaned that mess up. we'll be

loretta lynch is still waiting. the lynch nomination to an an unresolved human trafficking bill delaying the nomination for months. minority leader harry reid will force a vote on lynch if it does not happen soon. likely presidential contender jeb bush is breaking with republicans calling for a vote as soon as possible. let's get more from jim acosta. >> reporter: john and christine, the white house is lashing out at republicans over stalling the nomination of the pick for attorney general. lynch's nomination has been held up for months mired in a dispute of abortion language in a bill that dealings with human trafficking. at the white house thursday josh earnest accuses the gop of hypocrisy noting that republican lawmakers like charles grassly had urged the president last fall to hold off naming a nominee until the new year as a gesture. now the white house notes grassly is blaming the president for lynch's delay. earnest called that shameful saying lynch deserves a vote. >> she has waited now more than twice as lo

i mean, a lynching did occur. freddie gray was lynched. there was a lynch mob. there is a body.here was a death without a trial, without a jury, without a sentence. there was an execution. that is lynching. so for anybody to say that people that exercise their first amendment rights to protest, to demand justice, to demand an investigation is a lynch mob, it is 1984. it is doublespeak. they are blaming the victims blaming people that suffered the lynching for protesting about the lynching, about their behavior. and i think -- i mean, they do not serve and protect the citizens of the community, the people that pay them, when they kill those citizens and then in turn, accuse those citizens of acting out of order and arresting the citizens for protesting the violence that they inflict upon the citizens. that is absurd. amy: there's a big difference in the way north charleston, south carolina dealt with the killing of walter scott and what is happening today. a police officer was arrested. the mayor and the police chief went to see the family of the scots to give their condolences.

that miss lynch has such a commitment."ly not committed to the rule of law? these are audacious claims. ignoring a long career that began with a degree from harvard law and she was confirmed twice as a u.s. attorney. and even republicans were aware of her legal representation. just listen to ted cruz. >> i'll note a number of my friends and colleagues who practice law in new york have reached out to me with words of praise for you describing your tenure as a u.s. attorney as a no nonsense prosecutor and as a u.s. attorney who honored and represented the law. >> but ted cruz still decided to oppose lynch and now eight house republicans are trying to attack her integrity and stop the senate from confirming her as the head of the justice department. joining me now is pamela president of the national bar association, the and ryan grimm. >> thank you for having us. >> pamela how can anyone consider loretta lynch to be unfit to serve as attorney general? >> as an 18-year attorney i cannot completely understand it. if you look at

go ahead and confirm loretta lynch.i think they're kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. they want him to go but yet they won't move the confirmation forward. there's absolutely no reason in the world they can't just do a clean confirmation vote. >> melanie campbell we saw them come back in from recess. they did not schedule a vote. many people all over the country have been calling for this vote. we see them go as i said in the intro, and confirm a federal judge just like they could have voted for loretta lynch that simple is how they did the federal judge. is this like sticking their finger in the eye of the american people? >> well we're going back on capitol hill tomorrow to continue to urge senator mcconnell to leave. we're going back with the women of faith and women of good conscience to really urge senator mcconnell to do the right thing and call for that vote. he has the power as the congress woman has stated. he can do this vote at any moment. we are concerned that she has waited another two weeks si

so let's have a robust debate on loretta lynch.n up or down vote just as soon as the senate moves forward and helps victims of sex trafficking which i think is a reasonable tradeoff. >> okay. but penny, when she finally is nominated, and this is not to discredit loretta lynch because there are several gop members that believe that she is extremely qualified for the job and they don't question her ability whatsoever. she is extremely qualified. she is a smart woman. when she steps in when it comes to sex trafficking, for example are president obama's liberal stances on immigration going to get in the way of sex trafficking? i would hope not. >> i hope not either. she said look, she has been nominated by someone and you would expect, and i'm not sure whether republicans were expecting her answers to be otherwise, but she is as you said and as guy has said, she deserves an up and down vote because she is competent because she is capable, and because the justice department needs a leader at this point. right now you have somebody with

he is calling for lynch to be confirmed as soon as possible.'s get more from jim acosta. >> reporter: john and christine, the white house is lashing out at republicans over the tactics and stalling the nomination of the pick for attorney general loretta lynch. at the white house thursday josh earnest accused the gop of hypocrisy noting that republican lawmakers like charles grassly urged the president last fall to hold off on naming the nominee until the new year. now grassly is blaming the president for the delay. earnest called that shameful saying lynch deserves a vote. >> she waited now twice as long as the previous seven attorneys general combined. there is no excuse or explanation for it. >> reporter: mitch mcconnell indicated a break in the log jam could be coming next week when the necessity dpoesh the negotiators will come up with a deal. john and christine. >>> so wikileaks is pouring salt on the sony electronic wounds publishing a database of every document and e-mail stolen last year. a lot of embarrassing e-mails. julian assange sa

loretta lynch is the u.s. attorney for the eastern district of new york. nancy cordes tells us that the stalling by the senate has nothing to do with lynch herself. >> it's gone too far. enough. it's embarrassing. a process like this. >> reporter: president obama named lynch as his pick to replace the retiring eric holder 160 days ago. >> yet what, we still have is this crazy situation where a woman who everybody agrees is qualified has been now sitting there longer than the previous seven attorney general nominees combined. and there's no reason for it. >> so help me god. >> i do. >> reporter: her confirmation hearing was held 79 days ago and by all accounts went well. she has the votes to pass, but work in the senate has ground to a halt over an unrelated dispute, an antiabortion provision in a human trafficking bill. >> and we're continuing to make progress. >> reporter: republicans are using the lynch vote as leverage in that abortion fight. it's a common tactic employed by both sides. senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. what's the justification fo

call loretta lynch for a vote. get her confirmed. put her in place. let her do her job. this is embarrassing. >> ifill: the president nominated lynch last november to replace eric holder. if confirmed, the career prosecutor from new york would become the first black woman to hold the office. the white house today called news of the senate deal "an encouraging sign." >> ifill: so what broke the logjam? for that, i spoke a short time ago to two members of the senate. we start with mississippi republican roger wicker. senator wicker, welcome. there seem to be two arguments going on here in the senate recently that you reached an agreement about today, but one was about a human trafficking bill, one was about loretta lynch. what was the connection? >> well, the connection is actually we needed to break the logjam on the trafficking bill, a very important piece of legislation to protect vulnerable young americans and also people who will be trafficked into the united states. senator mcconnell had made it clear that the schedule would be the trafficking bill then the lynch nom

lynch's confirmation vote. no purpose. >> maybe. or maybe it's helpful to the democrats in 2016. >> feeling like a kanye moment here. they never loved us right? # sisters for loretta lynch. this is really -- they don't care right -- about black women voters. we are going to turn out. it will be retribution, right? she's being held hostage for their political gain. but also at a moment where they are holder haters right? >> eric holder. >> right. here you have a woman who is going to continue the work of eric holder on policing, on immigration, on other things. so there is concern about that. for us to think they can't multi task if they can't multi task they need to go home. so this is really an interesting moment. i think when women are going to turn out in record numbers, when black women repeatedly turn out in record numbers, they are going to have a problem. >> matt eric holder's name has been brought to the table. the republicans say this is about a human trafficking bill they want to go first. sometimes y

mainly because lynch was held up five months. that was becoming a problem. however, what was at stake here was a democrat heir when they were trying to push the human trafficking bill bipartisan bill earlier this year. there's provision about abortion funding. that's how crazy it works. the bill was tied to the nomination. it was a question whether or not funds within that bill would be used for abortion and of course republicans are against federal funds used for abortions. a compromise was worked out on that language. it will be interesting to see thomas, there are possibility of amendments put on human trafficking bill that harry reid might not like. that could ruin what is a fragile agreement now shall we say. that could impact lynch in a negative way. >> we have amy coming up in the next hour. we'll have questions about this. great to see you luke. >> thank you sir. >>> breaking news out of baltimore. police's names have been released, the officers suspended. it includes one lieutenant, a sergeant and four police officers. officials have promised the in

it really does look like loretta lynch has the votes the confirm her.five republican supporters. the question is will mitch mcconnell bring it to a vote. >> i'm glad you brought that up. when mitch mcconnell became majority leader he made a huge big deal. a huge deal about how well the senate would function. listen to this. >> i heard a lot of discussion about dysfunction in washington. i think there are a lot of people who believe that just because you have divided government that doesn't mean you don't accomplish anything. the senate in the last few years doesn't do anything. we don't even vote. we're going back to work and actually pass legislation. >> he made this big deal about progress and votes and passing legislation. if he can't hold a vote on the attorney general, i mean, what does he do? >> and he can hold a vote. he just won't hold the vote. that is incredibly disingenuous. the prize goes to senator chuck grassley. he is now blaming harry reid for not bringing this up when the democrats had the majority in december. you and i talked about th

democrats believe the opposite based on lynch.ople are going to have a big disapproval of congress and the senate no matter whether they move on lynch or not, no matter whether they move on the human trafficking bill or not. if you're mitch mcconnell and only a few months into your tenure as senate majority leader, you can't allow democrats to lead the senate from the minority. >> jeb bush says the president should put his foot down. he spoke on this in new hampshire on thursday. listen. >> presidents have the right to pick their team in general. if someone is supportive of the president's policies whether you agree with them or not, there should be some deference of the executive. this should not always be partisan. the longer it takes to confirm her, the longer erik holder stays attorney general. >> will this stain the process -- will it taint the gop political race. >> the process is already stained. >> let me finish the question. will this be a problem for those who are running for president on the gop side? >> no. i don't thi

lynch noting that her father's 83rd birthday was just last week.o expressing her excitement to begin her new job after five months of waiting to be confirmed as our nation's attorney general. so we'll continue to follow the reaction to this historic moment after she was approved by a 56-43 vote and the confirmation delayed, as mentioned, some five months. we'll keep an eye on all the developments there, but quite a speech from our new attorney general loretta lynch. we'll be right back. but now you can give them even more when you save with sentry® fiproguard® plus. with sentry® fiproguard® plus, your pet is just as protected against fleas and ticks as with frontline® plus. because sentry® fiproguard® plus has the same active ingredients but costs less than vet prices. and saving money helps you buy... (laughs happily) more tennis balls. sentry® fiproguard® plus - available at these retailers. we were below the 88th southern parallel. we had traveled for over 850 miles. my men driven nearly mad from starvation and frostbite. today we make history.

you heard jeb bush say this week they should confirm loretta lynch. gloria: because they should vote on her. manu: vote on her exactly. >> he's got the executive point of view, though. manu: he does have the executive point of view. you talk to some republicans i talked to john corrine and i asked him specifically are you feeling pressure to confirm loretta lynch, his answer, no. gloria: but harry reid says, i'm going to bring it up no matter what. i can get 51 votes to bring it up and that is abandoning and attacking senate protocol, which, you know, is kind of unheard of. will he have to do that? manu: it sounds like they may be able to avoid that because as peter mentioned, it's all wrapped up in this fight over this trafficking bill and it sounds like they're close to getting a deal on that and they could lead to the confirmation of loretta lynch but certainly if harry reid goes this route and forces a vote and tries to really undermine mitch mcconnell's prerogative in setting the schedule, which is huge in the senate. everything is about allowing

anger is mounting after the protesters were compared to a lynch mob. the governor has sent in state troopers to keep the peace. we'll go there live next. big day? ah, the usual. moved some new cars. hauled a bunch of steel. kept the supermarket shelves stocked. made sure everyone got their latest gadgets. what's up for the next shift? ah, nothing much. just keeping the lights on. (laugh) nice. doing the big things that move an economy. see you tomorrow, mac. see you tomorrow, sam. just another day at norfolk southern. my constipation and belly pain feel like a raging storm. i've tried laxatives but my symptoms keep returning. my constipation feels like a heavy weight that keeps coming back. vo: linzess can help. once-daily linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation. linzess is thought to help calm pain-sensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. linzess helps you proactively manage your symptoms. do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. it may harm them. don't take linzess

loretta lynch is expected to win her nomination for attorney general. it comes after lawmakers cleared the hurdle that stalled her nomination or confirmation. let's get more from athena jones. >> reporter: good morning, john. today is the day that loretta lynch will finally get a vote in the full senate. she waited longer for a vote than any attorney general nomination since the reagan administration. the senate first had to deal with a bill fighting human trafficking. that bill got stuck in debate over abortion language. once agreement was reached on that bill it passed yesterday afternoon with unanimous support. that brings us to today. we expect that vote to happen at 2:00 p.m. today. at least five republican senators plan to vote for lynch with the support of the 46 democrats, that brings her to the 51 votes she needs for confirmation. a lot of lynch supporters on and off the hill hope she gets a lot more votes than just the 51 she needs. still, if everything goes as expected this will be a history making moment. lynch was born in the segregated sou

loretta lynch has just been sworn in as the new u.s. attorney general. we'll have more news right after this break. >> al jazeera america international news. >> people here are worried that this already serious situation may escalate. >> shining a light on the untold stories. >> believe in yourself and you might get there. >> making the connections to the bigger picture. >> shouldn't you have been tougher? >> feeling the real impact. >> separatists took control a few days ago. >> get closer to every story. >> how easy is it for a fighter to get in? >> get the international news you need to know. al jazeera america. >> tonight on "techknow". >> we should not be having earthquakes in texas. >> the true cost of energy hits home. >> my yard is gone. >> are we destroying our way of life? >> contaminated water from the fracking activities come here. >> they stick it into the core of the earth. >> but this cutting-edge technology could be the answer. >> the further of fracking is about the water. >> protecting the planet saving lives. >> how do you convince a b

lynch for that statement. before we start for the first round i'd like to talk to my colleagues just a minute because of the 18 votes that are coming up this afternoon and because of a chaotic situation and the most important thing is getting this hearing over in one sitting and one day even if it goes into the evening. i hope my colleagues will be cognizant of what we normally do between senator leahy and i were fairly liberal about letting people go over and whether we have five seven or ten minutes my general practices if you have one second left you can ask a question but this time i would prefer you stick to the ten minutes and i'm not very good at battling people down so take care of that for me, would you please? before the first ten minutes start i'd like to make something clear for myself, i can't speak for my colleagues. one you one you said you wanted to improve relationships with the committee and congress. we welcome not very much and that will be very helpful particularly in regard to our respons

this was never really entirely about loretta lynch. what this long, protracted nomination battle that we had not seen before was about was the fact republicans did not like eric holder and yet when they were presented with a replacement in loretta lynch who many concede she's very well qualified and ready for the job she got someone who spoke up and said she supported the president's action on immigration, which may be some of the things republicans dislike more than eric holderp himself. so we saw it dug up improbation and unrelated human tracking bill which you discussed on the program before get drawn into this. that was rehe resolved earlier this week and in the end she won the support of 10 republicans. most interesting senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. gwen: of the things i found interesting about all of these confirmation hearings but this one in particular she was being peoplized for agreeing with the president who nominated her. what was expected? juana: if you listened to what republicans said, what they wanted in a new

but reacting to hearing the words lynch mob, react to that for me.f words, but also the fact a lot of folks here are demanding charges for these police officers when we don't know all the facts just yet. >> right. i think citizens here have righteous indignation. and i think they have righteous indignation because this commissioner has had culpability in not firing officers in the past for similar types of actions. so people are passionate. three years ago anthony anderson was killed by the baltimore city police department. his case was determined to be a homicide by the maryland medical examiner's office but there were no charges brought before the officers. they were allowed to keep their jobs. we contend they had a paid vacation at the taxpayers' expense. two years ago tyrone west was killed by the same police department. he was drug out of his car, beaten and tased to death by the baltimore city police department. no charges, no indictments. they were allowed to keep their jobs. >> we talked earlier this week. you named these different cases. we

attorney loretta lynch's confirmation. >> loretta lynch, the first african-american woman nominated to be attorney general is asked to sit in the back of the bus when it comes to the senate. >> a civil rights group is staging hunger strikes until she's confirmed and on thursday even republican presidential hopeful jeb bush called on the senate to get moving. president obama appeared to reach his limit friday. >> what are we doing here? and i have to say that there are times where the dysfunction in the senate just goes too far. >> this is an example of it. it's gone too far. enough. enough. >> the hold up has little to do with lynch and everything to do with politics. >> i think what you're looking at is a new republican majority flexing its muscles trying to get things done the way they want to do them. >> the senate republicans said they won't pass the nomination on link until they pass a human trafficking bill. >> i have indicated that we're going to deal with the lynch nomination right after we finish trafficking. >> just like lynch the trafficking bill was supposed to be a slam du