N.D. U.S. Attorney nominee delayed

BISMARCK (AP) — The U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee has delayed endorsing a Bismarck lawyer who’s in line to be North Dakota’s next U.S. attorney.

Tim Purdon was one of three U.S. attorney nominees on the committee’s discussion list Thursday in Washington, D.C. Two others from Tennessee and Illinois were approved without debate.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont said during the hearing that a delay had been requested on Purdon’s nomination. Leahy didn’t elaborate.

The U.S. attorney is North Dakota’s top federal prosecutor. President Obama nominated Purdon for the job last February. Purdon is a former North Dakota Democratic national committeeman.

Purdon needs to be confirmed by the Senate before he takes the U.S. attorney’s job.

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