If she is actually confirmed this week as the U.S. Attorney General — that's the expectation — New York's U.S. attorney Loretta Lynch will become the first black woman to hold the position. (She will replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, the first black man to hold the post.) But the more interesting and strange aspect of Lynch's protracted confirmation process might be how it became hostage to an abortion provision in a human trafficking bill.
Briefly, Republicans wanted to pass a human trafficking bill before debating the president's nominee for AG. Dems and Republicans got all deadlocked over what medical services to offer the victims. Dems wanted abortion to be one of the services. The GOP balked. And Loretta Lynch waited. Until this week, when both sides struck an unusual compromise: Victims of human trafficking, reports the Washington Post, will get healthcare via a fund "that already restricts abortions, except for in cases of rape or incest."
Problem solved. Helloooo, Loretta.
