Speaking in Maine offers a talk by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. He was at the University of Maine in Orono to deliver the William S. Cohen Lecture. Senator and former Secretary of Defense Cohen introduced Holder and took part in the Q and A.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder addressed an audience of approximately 850 people at the University of Maine on October 23. Holder told the audience that President Barack Obama is still committed to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, closing Guantanamo Bay Prison and will not pursue prosecution of medical marijuana users.
Holder spoke as the guest of the William S. Cohen Lecture Series. He touched on the defense department, anti-terrorism efforts, the war in Afghanistan and U.S. politics. Cohen, a former senator and secretary of defense, introduced Holder, who answered questions from the audience and attended a brief session with reporters after the meeting.
During the comment session after the lecture, Holder said the president is of the opinion that federal resources are better used elsewhere, rather than prosecuting people who are obeying state marijuana laws.
Concerning health care reform, Holder said Obama will continue to seek the support of Maine’s republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.