Senator to Stop Blocking Some DOJ Jobs over Pot
Cory Gardner
Cory Gardner  used  his  power as a senator last month to freeze nominations for posts at the agency after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded Obama-era protections for states like Colorado that have broadly legalized recreational marijuana. It was a dramatic move by a Republican senator against his own party's attorney general and came after  Gardner  said Sessions had promised him there wouldn't be a crackdown.  Gardner  said  he  was placing holds on nominees until Sessions changed  his  approach.
The holds have created friction both with Sessions  who has complained that critical posts are going unfilled  and some of  Gardner 's fellow GOP senators who want key law enforcement officials in their states confirmed.
In an interview with The Associated Press   Gardner  said Thursday that  he 's discussed the issue with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and has been pleased with progress so far. Department leaders have "shown in good faith their willingness to provide what I think will be hopefully the protections we sought  and as sort of a good faith gesture on my behalf I'll be releasing a limited number of nominees  " Gardner  said.
 He  will release  his  holds on nominees for U.S. attorneys in a dozen federal districts  U.S. marshals in every district and on John Demers  who was nominated to head Justice's national security division.
 Gardner  stopped short of saying Rosenstein offered  his  assurances that the department would not crack down on the legal cannabis industry  but gave  him  enough comfort that Colorado's acting U.S. attorney  Bob Troyer  will continue to focus on prosecuting people acting outside of Colorado's voter-approved marijuana laws rather than those who follow them. That follows a pledge Troyer made the day Sessions announced  his  agency's new marijuana policy.
 Gardner  will continue to hold the nominations of seven top Department of Justice nominees.  He 's also working with a bipartisan group of members of congress to pursue legislation protecting states that have legalized marijuana.
 [TGT] used   [TGT]   power as a senator last month to freeze nominations for posts at the agency after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded Obama-era protections for states like Colorado that have broadly legalized recreational marijuana. It was a dramatic move by a Republican senator against his own party's attorney general and came after   [TGT] said Sessions had promised  [TGT]  there wouldn't be a crackdown.   [TGT] said   [TGT]   was placing holds on nominees until Sessions changed   [TGT]   approach.
The holds have created friction both with Sessions  who has complained that critical posts are going unfilled  and some of  Gardner 's fellow GOP senators who want key law enforcement officials in their states confirmed.
In an interview with The Associated Press   Gardner  said Thursday that  he 's discussed the issue with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and has been pleased with progress so far. Department leaders have "shown in good faith their willingness to provide what I think will be hopefully the protections we sought  and as sort of a good faith gesture on my behalf I'll be releasing a limited number of nominees  "  [TGT] said.
  [TGT]   will release   [TGT]   holds on nominees for U.S. attorneys in a dozen federal districts  U.S. marshals in every district and on John Demers  who was nominated to head Justice's national security division.
  [TGT] stopped short of saying Rosenstein offered   [TGT]   assurances that the department would not crack down on the legal cannabis industry  but gave   [TGT]   enough comfort that Colorado's acting U.S. attorney  Bob Troyer  will continue to focus on prosecuting people acting outside of Colorado's voter-approved marijuana laws rather than those who follow them. That follows a pledge Troyer made the day Sessions announced  his  agency's new marijuana policy.
  [TGT] will continue to hold the nominations of seven top Department of Justice nominees.   [TGT]  's also working with a bipartisan group of members of congress to pursue legislation protecting states that have legalized marijuana.