The former Bush administration lawyer under fire for defending the federal ban on gay marriage is getting support from an unexpected source — Attorney General Eric Holder.
Former solicitor general Paul Clement quit his law firm after it announced Monday that it was withdrawing from the case amid criticism from gay rights advocacy groups. Clement is moving to another firm to continue the work.
Holder told reporters Tuesday that Clement is a great lawyer and criticism of him is misplaced. He said Clement is "doing that which lawyers do" in representing legislators who wrote the law.
President Barack Obama ordered Holder's Justice Department in February to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. That led House Republicans to hire Clement.
