NPR:
Eric Holder Jr., the nation's first black U.S. attorney general, is preparing to announce his resignation Thursday after a tumultuous tenure marked by civil rights advances, national security threats, reforms to the criminal justice system and five and a half years of fights with Republicans in Congress.
Two sources familiar with the decision tell NPR that Holder, 63, intends to leave the Justice Department as soon as his successor is confirmed, a process that could run through 2014 and even into next year. A former U.S. government official says Holder has been increasingly "adamant" about his desire to leave soon for fear he otherwise could be locked in to stay for much of the rest of President Obama's second term.
Holder has been Attorney General throughout President Obama's nearly six years in office. We'll update as information becomes available.
8:11 AM PT: The speculation begins for Holder's successor:
A top Dem Hill aide sends along this AG replacement possibility: outgoing US Atty in Seattle Jenny Durkan -- 1st openly gay US atty
— @mmurraypolitics
8:12 AM PT: Pres. Obama will apparently announce the news officially at 4:30 PM ET.
8:17 AM PT (Joan McCarter): While Senate Republicans are likely to make the nomination process as hellish as they possibly can, thanks to the filibuster reform Democrats passed last year, the new nominee will need just 51 votes for confirmation. So, good one, Harry Reid.