Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin, Blackburn Bill to Support Survivors of Child Sex Abuse Headed to President's Desk
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.3103, the Eliminating Limits to Justice forChild Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill first introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The bill now heads to the President's desk. "The science of trauma is clear: it often takes years for victims to come forward," Durbin said. "Our bipartisan bill honors the ba… Continue Reading
09.13.22
Durbin Questions Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Durbin began by questioning Mr. Zatko about the type of information that Twitter collects from its users. "Can we get into the real world now and talk about whether or not consumers across America have a right to be warned if they are opening a Twi… Continue Reading
09.13.22
Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Zatko, a data security expert and former head of security at Twitter, recently blew the whistle on alleged data security failures, foreign infiltration, and misrepresentations to regulatory agencies by Twitter. Key quotes as prepared: "[I] am here today because I believe that Twit… Continue Reading
09.12.22
Durbin, Grassley Press Twitter CEO On Reports Of Security Failures And Foreign Infiltration 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 sent a letter to Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Parag Agrawal seeking information regarding a recent whistleblower report concerning the social media platform. On August 23, 2022, multiple news outlets released a lengthy disclosure containing allegations made by Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, the former h… Continue Reading
09.12.22
Senate Confirms Salvador Mendoza To Ninth Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Salvador Mendoza to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Mendoza's confirmation: "Judge Mendoza is a highly experienced jurist with a life-long commitment to public and community service. He has distinguished himself on the bench, presiding over dozens of trials and demonstrating evenhande… Continue Reading
09.08.22
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