Attorney General Eric Holder has
defended Paul Clement's decision to represent House Republicans in
defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the Clinton-era law
that bans federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of
gay and lesbian couples.
The Atlanta-based law firm King &
Spalding on Monday announced
it was withdrawing from the case, prompting
partner Clement to jump ship to the Washington-based Bancroft PLLC,
where he'll continue to work on the case. House leaders took on the
task of defending the law after President Barack Obama announced he
would no longer because he believes the law is unconstitutional.
Holder has said he agrees with the president.
Upon offering his resignation, Clement,
a former solicitor general, chided
his former employer for “abandoning” his client.
Holder on Tuesday praised Clement's
talent in the courtroom and told reporters that he's “doing that
which lawyers do” in defending the law.
On Tuesday, the Human Rights Campaign
(HRC), the nation's largest advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender rights, took
credit for pressuring King & Spalding to drop the case.