Race relations and the tensions between police and the black community will likely be a hallmark issue for presumed Attorney General Loretta Lynch after the recent killings of unarmed black men in New York and Missouri.
Lawmakers and activists are already hoping Lynch will tackle the issue head-on and advance a number of policy changes initiated by the current Attorney General Eric Holder,
The Hill reported.
"She will be sensitive not only to enforcing the laws of the land, but also to issues that are unique to the African-American community, such as police misconduct and the need to reform the criminal justice system," Rep. G.K. Butterfield, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told The Hill.
Lynch may be uniquely placed to bridge the divide, given she would be the first black woman to lead the Justice Department.
"Few things have pained me more than the recent reports of tension and division between law enforcement and the communities we serve," Lynch said last week during her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to The Hill.
"If confirmed as attorney general, one of my key priorities would be to work to strengthen the vital relationships between our courageous law enforcement personnel and all the communities we serve," she added.
In her career to date, she has earned the trust of civil rights groups, The Hill said, but also enjoys the
respect of law enforcement and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
"She has prosecuted those who have committed crimes against police officers, as well as police officers who have committed crimes," Vermont Democratic Rep. Patrick Leahy said during the confirmation hearing, according to The Hill.
"I like the idea that she doesn't concede that the police are necessarily wrong in every situation," Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, told The Hill.
Lynch faced confirmation hearings at the end of last month. It is unclear when she will be confirmed, but a full vote in the Senate could come as early as the week of Feb. 26 when lawmakers return from their break, The Hill said.
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