McConnell: Senate To Take Up Loretta Lynch Nomination Next Week

Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama's choice to run the Justice Department, wraps up a full day of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee at her confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. If confirmed, Lynch would replace Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced his resignation in September after leading the Justice Department for six years. She is now the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. This is the first nomination hearing under the new Republican majority. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)J. Scott Applewhite / AP

March 10, 2015, 7:24 PM UTC

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he plans to bring up the nomination of Loretta Lynch to be the next Attorney General as early as next week.

"I think we'll be dealing with the attorney general nomination next week," McConnell told reporters Tuesday.

Lynch's nomination passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 26th by a vote of 12-8, with three Republicans joining all Democrats to advance the nomination.

Democrats have been calling on Republicans to move more quickly in the confirmation process. Her confirmation was announced more than 120 days ago, which is the longest it has taken an attorney general's confirmation to be brought before the Senate.

Lynch is expected to pass the Senate but with a large number of Republican opponents who have expressed opposition to President Barack Obama's immigration executive orders.

- Leigh Ann Caldwell and Frank Thorp V