Holder To Couric: No One Can Say We Dragged Our Feet On Stevens
In an exclusive interview with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, Holder, who noted that he has only been in his post for eight weeks, said he doesn't think "anybody can say that this department has dragged its feet."
He pointed out that "in this limited time that I've been Attorney General," he "looked at the case, decided that mistakes had been made, and made the determination that the case had to be dismissed, looking at the totality of the circumstances."
Holder also told Couric that he will not fire two major targets of the investigation, lead prosecutor Brenda Morris and William Welch during the probe.
"You're reportedly close to the lead prosecutor, Brenda Morris, who's under investigation for failing, among other things, to disclose crucial information to defense lawyers in this case," Couric pointed out to Holder. "Another target of the investigation is, apparently, William Welch, who's head of the office, ironically, of public integrity. Will you fire either one of them? Will they stay on during the course of these investigations?"
"Unless there's some basis for me to decide if they have something wrong -- they'll remain in place," Holder said.
Watch this interaction below:
Watch Katie's story from tonight's broadcast:
Check your local listings for the CBS Evening News With Katie Couric to watch the interview.