Obama nominating NY prosecutor as attorney general, would be first black female

Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, has emerged as the leading choice to be the next attorney general.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has chosen a federal prosecutor in New York to become the next attorney general.

A person familiar with Obama’s decision says the president intends to nominate U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to replace Eric Holder as the head of the Justice Department.

The person spoke ahead of the formal announcement on condition of anonymity.

If Lynch is confirmed, she will be Obama’s second trail-blazing pick for the post. Holder was the first black attorney general and she would be the first black woman.

Obama had planned to wait until after a trip to Asia next week to announce the choice but moved up the decision after CNN reported she was the choice.

Lynch is the U.S. attorney for Eastern New York, which covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.