UPDATE 1-U.S. Senate panel backs Loretta Lynch as attorney general

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By Lindsay Dunsmuir

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate JudiciaryCommittee on Thursday voted to back Loretta Lynch as PresidentBarack Obama's next attorney general, clearing way for herexpected confirmation in the full Senate.

The 20-member panel voted 12-8 in favor of Lynch, 55, acareer prosecutor who is currently the U.S. attorney inBrooklyn.

Only three out of 11 Republicans on the panel voted toendorse her nomination.

If confirmed, Lynch would become the first black woman toserve as the nation's top law enforcement official. She wouldreplace Eric Holder, who has held the post since 2009.

At her Jan. 28 confirmation hearing, Lynch sought to smoothinteractions with Republicans, who have repeatedly clashed withHolder, by emphasizing her determination for a "new andimproved" relationship.

But Senate Republicans delayed a scheduled vote on hernomination two weeks ago in order to further scrutinize Lynch'srecord, in particular her support of the Obama administration'simmigration order and a settlement she forged with HSBC HoldingsPLC in 2012 over money-laundering allegations.

Since her hearing, a Texas district court has thrown Obama'sexecutive order on immigration into legal limbo and HSBC hascome under fire over allegations it helped clients evade taxesin their home countries.

Republicans have criticized Lynch for not probing the bankfurther over tax evasion at the time her office negotiated a$1.2 billion accord with them.

Lynch has said that fostering better relations between lawenforcement and minority communities, and fighting cybercrimewould be among her main priorities at the Justice Department.Counter-terror initiatives and balancing privacy rights againstgovernment surveillance efforts are also expected to top herin-tray. (Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Lisa Lambert)