Ok this may be a stupid question, but wouldn’t a judge have to do that? Holder is merely the prosecutor for the United States, no?
See post above yours
I would think a judge would have to do that. Actually it takes a judge to order the return of the possessions. So it's likely that Holder has asked the judge not to order them returned yet.
But I would also think that law enforcement which actually executes the return would give great difference to the US AG, and delay a return at least long enough for the AG to get a court order.