FEDERAL CASE

Justice Dept. Looking at Garner Death

Loretta Lynch to lead investigation.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday that the Justice Department will proceed with a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Eric Garner. Loretta Lynch, President Obama's nominee to be the next Attorney General, will lead the probe. Earlier in the day, a Staten Island grand jury decided not to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo. Not only will the Justice Department lead a probe into Garner's death, but it will also "conduct a complete review of the material gathered during the local investigation," said Holder. He said he spoke to Garner's widow earlier in the day and was in touch with President Obama and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Holder acknowleged that the recent incidences involving law enforcement and minorities was not a "New York issue nor a Ferguson issue alone."