Attorney General Eric Holder says it’s “unfortunate” that former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta wrote a book critical of President Obama’s leadership.
“I think [what] Leon said in the book is unfortunate,” Holder, who is leaving his post as the nation’s top law enforcement official, said in an interview with CNN on Monday.
{mosads}“Frankly, I don’t think it’s something that a former Cabinet member should do while the president he served is still in office,” he added.
In his book and subsequent interviews, Panetta said Obama damaged U.S. credibility by not attacking Syria after saying it crossed a “red line” by using chemical weapons. He also cast the president as too willing to “step back and give up” when confronted by problems. Panetta criticized Obama’s decision to not quickly arm vetted Syrian opposition groups fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
At the time, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama was proud to have Panetta serve in his administration but rejected the criticism.
“The president has demonstrated, I think in a rather public fashion over the last several weeks, his success in leading the international community to confront some of the very difficult challenges of our time,” Earnest said, pointing to U.S. efforts against Ebola and ISIS.
“Time and time again, we have seen the president use that position to lead the international community and ensure that we are making the world a better place in a way that also furthers the core interests of American national security,” Earnest added. “The president is proud of the record of leadership that he’s demonstrated.”
But Holder isn’t the only Cabinet member to express concern. Vice President Biden flashed some anger when asked about Panetta’s book during a town hall earlier this month at Harvard University.
“I’m finding that former administration officials, as soon as they leave, write books, which I think is inappropriate,” Biden said. “No, I’m serious. I do think it’s inappropriate. At least give the guy a chance to get out of office.”
Holder intends to resign when the Senate confirms a successor, but don’t expect a similar tell-all from him during the rest of the Obama presidency.
“That’s not something that I would even consider doing,” Holder said.