Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Judiciary Committee Advances Two Members Of The Privacy And Civil Liberties Oversight Board, Two U.S. Marshals
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Richard E. DiZinno and Travis LeBlanc to be Members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board by voice vote. The Committee also advanced Brian A. Kyes, to be United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Stephen D. Lynn, to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Georgia, by voice vote. In light of this week's progress on nominations, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), C… Continue Reading
09.08.22
Senate Confirms Andre Mathis To Sixth Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Andre Mathis to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Mathis's confirmation: "Andre Mathis is a lifelong Tennessean-dedicating his life and career to his state and his community. Looking at his record of service and extensive experience as a litigator, it is no wonder Mr. Mathis enjoys support from… Continue Reading
09.07.22
Senate Confirms Judge John Lee To Seventh Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge John Lee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Lee's confirmation: "Judge Lee is an embodiment of the American dream. Born to Korean parents and immigrating to Chicago at the age of four, he has dedicated his career to public service and the evenhanded administration of justice. When h… Continue Reading
09.07.22
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Cindy K. Chung, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, and Justice Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. Durbin first questioned Justice Montgomery-Reeves on her reasoning in Doe v. Coupe, in which she considered a Fourth Amendment challenge to… Continue Reading
09.02.22
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Nomination Of Colleen Lawless To Serve As District Court Judge For The Central District Of Ilinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois: "We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois. S… Continue Reading
08.24.22
Durbin Statement On DHS Regulation To Preserve And Fortify DACA
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today released the following statement regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issuing a final rule that aims to preserve and fortify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for certain eligible noncitizens who arrived in the United States as children, deferring their removal and allowing them an opportunity to access a renewable, two-year work p… Continue Reading
08.24.22
Durbin, Grassley Announce Judiciary Committee Hearing On Whistleblower Disclosure Of Widespread Security Failures At Twitter
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a full Committee hearing to examine allegations of widespread security failures at Twitter. The hearing will feature testimony by Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, who will appear pursuant to a subpoena and whose recent… Continue Reading
08.23.22
Durbin Statement On Claims Of Widespread Security Failures At Twitter
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding reports by a former senior security employee at Twitter who is alleging widespread security failures at the company: "The whistleblower's allegations of widespread security failures at Twitter, willful misrepresentations by top executives to government agencies, and penetration of the company by foreign intelligence raise serious concerns. If thes… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked questions during the Senate Judiciary Committee's oversight hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray. This is the Committee's second annual FBI oversight hearing since Senator Durbin became Chair, and FBI Director Wray's third appearance before this Committee during the past two years. Durbin asked Director Wray about mass shootings and military-styl… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Senate Confirms Roopali H. Desai To The Ninth Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Roopali H. Desai to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with a bipartisan vote of 67-29. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Desai's confirmation: "It comes as no surprise that Ms. Desai's nomination has received high praise across the political and ideological spectrum, as well as from state judges, law enforcement officials, and thre… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With FBI Director Wray
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Key Quotes: "Director Wray, when you appeared before the Committee last March-just two months after the January 6 attack on the Capitol-you told us that domestic terrorism "has been metastasizing around the country for a long time now, and it's not going… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Judiciary Committee Advances Two Circuit Court Nominees, Four District Court Nominees, And One U.S. Attorney
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Rachel Bloomekatz, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Doris L. Pryor, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit; Gina R. Méndez-Miró, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico; Maria del R. Antongiorgi-Jordán, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico; Ana C. Reyes, to be United States District Judge for the Dis… Continue Reading
08.03.22
Durbin Meets With New BOP Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a lead author of the landmark First Step Act, today met virtually with Colette Peters, the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). During their meeting, Durbin asked Peters to commit to root out misconduct and to implement badly needed reforms-including the continued implementation of the First Step Act-at BOP, and emphasized his expectation that BOP will cooperate with the Judici… Continue Reading
08.03.22
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Threat To Election Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Protecting Our Democracy's Frontline Workers." The hearing included testimony from officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on threats to election workers for the first time since the 2020 election-and the first formal update to Congress since DOJ's annou… Continue Reading
08.03.22
Durbin Calls For DOD IG To Investigate Missing Text Messages From Trump's Defense Department Leadership In Lead Up To January 6 Insurrection
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today released the following statement regarding a report that text messages for former President Donald Trump's then-Secretary of Defense Chris Miller, former chief of staff Kash Patel, and former Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy are missing for a key time period leading up to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The… Continue Reading
08.03.22
Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Secretaries Of State Who Endured Threats Following The 2020 Election
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver during today's hearing entitled "Protecting our Democracy's Frontline Workers." In 2022, Benson received a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her work during the 2020 election, when she received an onslaught of threats, including by armed protestors at her house. Toulouse Oliver similarly received a number of t… Continue Reading
08.03.22
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Threat To Election Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Protecting Our Democracy's Frontline Workers." This hearing will include testimony from officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on threats to election workers for the first time since the 2020 election-and the first formal update to Congr… Continue Reading
08.02.22
Durbin: Justice Department Must Take Over Investigation Of Missing Text Messages From Trump's Homeland Security Leadership And Secret Service In Lead Up To January 6 Insurrection
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued his calls for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the missing text messages from former President Donald Trump's Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, as well as Secret Service officials, in the lead up to the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Last Friday, Durbin sent a letter to A… Continue Reading
07.29.22
Durbin Responds To MLB Commissioner Manfred
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement in response to today's letter from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred: "It is reasonable to question the premise that MLB is treating the Minor Leaguers fairly. Commissioner Manfred's response to our bipartisan request for information raises more questions than it answers, and the discrepancies between today's letter and the reality that minor league players are e… Continue Reading
07.29.22
Durbin Calls For Justice Department To Investigate Missing Text Messages From Trump's Homeland Security Leadership And Secret Service In Lead Up To January 6 Insurrection
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding a report that text messages for former President Donald Trump's Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, as well as Secret Service officials, are missing for a key time period leading up to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The report also notes that the Office of Inspector General Josep… Continue Reading