Durbin Opposes William Barr For Attorney General

Press Release

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that he will oppose President Trump's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General, William Barr. In today's Senate Judiciary Committee markup, Durbin reiterated his concerns about Mr. Barr's views regarding transparency for Special Counsel Mueller's findings and executive power before voting no on his nomination.

"I can't understand why Mr. Barr volunteered a 19-page memo to the Trump Administration. Turns out he'd also been asked to be part of the defense team for the President as well. Those are not good circumstances when we consider the job he's asking for -- to ultimately receive the result of the Mueller inquiry and to decide whether to share it with the American people. He's telegraphed his pitch in terms of the unitary executive theory," Durbin said. "I'll be voting against Mr. Barr."

Video of Durbin's remarks to the Senate Judiciary Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks to the Senate Judiciary Committee is available here.

Yesterday, Durbin met with Mr. Barr and continued to press Mr. Barr on his views regarding transparency for Special Counsel Mueller's findings, immigration, criminal justice reform, executive power, and voting rights. Durbin was not offered a meeting with the Attorney General nominee ahead of his confirmation hearings last month, a first in Durbin's 20-year tenure on the Judiciary Committee.

Last month, during the first day of Mr. Barr's confirmation hearings, Durbin questioned Mr. Barr on his views regarding immigration and criminal justice.

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