Democrat presses White House on John Edwards prosecutor

By Mike Baker

RALEIGH, N.C.

The Democratic senator in North Carolina said Wednesday she is pressing the White House to keep a federal prosecutor on the job until he completes investigations of two prominent state Democrats.

Sen. Kay Hagan said she has had numerous conversations with White House officials but has received no assurances about the future of U.S. attorney George Holding. President Barack Obama earlier this week nominated Charlotte lawyer Thomas G. Walker to replace the top prosecutor in Raleigh.

Holding's district has been overseeing federal probes into two-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who endorsed Obama a few months after dropping out of the 2008 election, and the state's former Democratic governor, Mike Easley. Hagan said earlier this year that she wants Holding to have time to complete the investigations so as not to make the replacement process political.

Hagan said she wasn't sure whether she would block the nominee.

"I've expressed my strong belief that George Holding should be allowed to complete the ongoing investigations of public officials," Hagan said Wednesday. "I'll continue to press upon the White House my feelings, my strong belief."

Gannet Tseggai, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement that "The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that investigations and prosecutions are conducted in a fair and impartial manner."

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator who dropped out of the presidential race in early 2008 and later went into seclusion after acknowledging an extramarital affair, has denied any improper use of campaign funds. His former mistress and a campaign aide who initially claimed to father the woman's child have made appearances at a federal courthouse in Raleigh.

Easley has also denied wrongdoing. A federal grand jury has been hearing testimony about a coastal subdivision where Easley and his wife purchased a lot and North Carolina State University's hiring of former first lady Mary Easley.

Holding has said he is confident that whoever replaces him will continue to uphold the office's oath. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Walker, 45, is a partner at Alston & Bird, LLP. He was an assistant U.S. attorney in the western district of North Carolina from 1994 to 2001.