Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Aaron Reitz, Trump's Pick To Be Assistant AG For The Office Of Legal Policy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Aaron Reitz, President Trump’s nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy, on a party-line vote:
“Simply put, Mr. Reitz’s confirmation is a danger to the rule of law. At his hearing, I asked him a very simple question—whether or not an elected official should be allowed to defy a federal court order. Mr. Reitz said, ‘there is no hard and fast rule about whether in every instance a public official is bound by a court decision.’ I was appalled to hear these words come out of the mouth of a nominee aspiring to hold a key role at the Justice Department.
“The Trump Administration has continued to undermine our system of checks and balances by pushing the boundaries of executive power, and, in turn, chipping away at the authority and legitimacy of the judicial branch. Mr. Reitz has made clear his intent to aid the President in pursuing this agenda, regardless of whether it is in accordance with judicial orders.
“Failing to unequivocally commit to following federal court orders should be disqualifying for any nominee before the Senate. I am dismayed that my Republican colleagues do not see it this way.”
Earlier this month, every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat voted against Mr. Reitz’s nomination in Committee. Durbin’s questioning of Mr. Reitz during his hearing is available here.
-30-