Obama blames GOP on US attorney general confirmation delay

U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday scolded the Senate Republicans for delaying a vote on Loretta Lynch as the nation's attorney general, urging them "stop playing politics with law enforcement and national security."
"You don't hold attorney general nominees hostage for other issues. This is our top law enforcement office," Obama told the Huffington Post, "Nobody denies that she's well-qualified, we need to go ahead and get her done."
Obama also urged Senate Republicans in his weekly address to vote on Lynch's nomination in order to finish "the longest confirmation process for an attorney general in three decades". He noted that "Republicans promised that Congress would function smoothly with them in charge," and "Here's a chance for them to prove it."
Last Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said a vote to confirm Lynch would be put off until members pass an anti-human- trafficking bill which has stalled because of an anti-abortion provision Democrats oppose.
"This will have an impact on the timing of considering a new attorney general," McConnell said on CNN Sunday's State of the Union, "I had hoped to turn to her next week, but if we can't finish the trafficking bill, she will be put off again."
Obama nominated Lynch as U.S. attorney general last November. Attorney General Eric Holder will stay in office until Lynch is confirmed.