Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights in the 115th Congress
Durbin: Senate Should Not Confirm Benzckowski, Controversial DOJ Nominee With Russia Ties
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to oppose the controversial nomination of Brian Benczkowski to lead the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division. While he was seeking a DOJ position in 2017, Mr. Benczkowski chose to represent Alfa Bank, a massive private commercial bank in Russia closely allied with President Vladimir Putin and his government, and he has refused to pledge to recuse himself from Russia-related matters if confirmed. In … Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Supreme Court Nomination Of Brett Kavanaugh
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court: The next Justice will likely be the deciding vote on whether Americans will keep affordable health insurance for pre-existing conditions, whether women will lose the freedom to make their own health care choices, and whether we have a Constitution that protects the rights of … Continue Reading
June 27, 2018
Durbin Statement On Retirement Of Justice Kennedy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and upcoming vacancy on the Court: I thank Justice Kennedy for his decades of service to the Court and the country. Senator McConnell set the new standard by giving the American people their say in the upcoming election before Court vacancies are filled. With so much at stake for the people of our country, … Continue Reading
June 27, 2018
Durbin Statement On Janus V. AFSCME Supreme Court Decision
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME): In Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner has made it clear that he favors corporations and special interests over Illinois workers and their families. He has repeatedly pushed an agenda of hostility to unions. This agenda is hurting workers across Illinois. And now, Governor Rauner has … Continue Reading
June 21, 2018
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling On Internet Tax Loophole
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to overturn a 1992 ruling that had given internet-only retailers an unfair advantage over Main Street businesses by prohibiting states from requiring remote retailers to collect taxes already owed the same way local businesses do. "This is good news for main street businesses in Illinois and across America. This ruling clears the way for our retailers to compete on … Continue Reading
June 14, 2018
Durbin Statement On Justice Dept. Inspector General Report On FBI Handling Of Clinton Investigation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the release of a report by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz that examined the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) handling of its investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails during the 2016 presidential campaign: This report makes clear that FBI Director Comey and FBI personnel failed to follow the rules, and in doing so, hurt Hillary Clinton's campaign and helped Donald … Continue Reading
June 07, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nomination Of Martha Pacold, Mary Rowland & Steven Seeger To Serve As U.S. District Judges For The Northern District of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the White House announced the nominations of Martha M. Pacold, Mary M. Rowland, and Steven C. Seeger to serve as District Judges on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the President has nominated these three Illinoisans. They have the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to serve with distinction as district court … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing "National Gun Violence Awareness Month"
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) led 14 other Senators and 25 other Representatives to introduce a resolution in the House and Senate establishing the weekend of June 1-3, 2018 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." Every day in America, an average of around 300 men, women, and children are shot, nearly one-third of them fatally. Establishing a month to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Durbin, Booker, Harris, Lewis, Jackson Lee Statement On House Vote On "Prison Reform"
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives John Lewis (D-GA) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) released the following statement on the FIRST STEP Act, a so-called prison reform bill that will be voted on in the House of Representatives later today: "Make no mistake: the FIRST STEP Act is not meaningful criminal justice reform, and would be a step backward from our shared goal of ending America's mass incarceration crisis. The bill … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Durbin Calls On President Trump & Republican Majority in Congress to Stand Up to the Gun Sales Lobby, Act to Help Prevent Gun Violence
Following last week's school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas, which left eight students and two teachers dead and another 13 victims wounded, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress for still being unwilling to push for any gun reforms that the gun sales lobby opposes. "Congress is going to have to choose who to listen to - the students who are spending their class time thinking about whether their desks are in the line … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Gina Haspel To Head CIA
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on Gina Haspel, President Trump's nominee to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: America cannot close this sad chapter in our history of rendition, waterboarding, and enhanced interrogation techniques until we have accountability. Those who were part of the decision-making in those years must acknowledge that 'following orders' and trusting legal interpretations' are not sufficient to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2018
Senate Confirms Michael Scudder & Amy St. Eve For The 7th Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the nominations of Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. and U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve to serve as Circuit Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based in Chicago: "Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder have the experience, integrity, and judgment that we look for in federal judges, and we look forward to seeing them serve with distinction on … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Grassley, Durbin: Sentencing Reform Necessary For Senate Consideration Of Criminal Justice Reform
WASHINGTON-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed optimism for continued consideration of criminal justice reform proposals, but warned that inclusion of key sentencing reforms is necessary to win Senate approval: "We are encouraged to see our House colleagues continue a serious discussion about necessary reforms to our nation's criminal justice system. However, as we move forward, reforms to federal sentencing … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Judiciary Committee Democrats Call On President To Withdraw Controversial Justice Dept Nominee Tied To Russian Bank
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats are calling on President Trump to withdraw his controversial nomination of Brian Benczkowski to lead the Department of Justice's Criminal Division. Mr. Benczkowski represented Alfa Bank, a massive private commercial bank in Russia closely allied with President Vladimir Putin and his government, and has refused to pledge to recuse himself from Russia-related matters if confirmed. With new revelations coming to light about Russia's … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Durbin Questions CIA Openly Lobbying For Haspel Nomination
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today questioned the role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in openly and actively using Agency resources to promote the nomination of Gina Haspel to serve as its next director. "These efforts to promote a national security nomination appear to be without precedent in recent history," said Durbin. "Congress is being lobbied aggressively, and we must consider whether our … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Senate Confirms Brendan Heffner To Be U.S. Marshal For Central District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to confirm the nomination of Brendan O. Heffner to serve as United States Marshal for the Central District of Illinois: "Through many years of service to Illinois, Brendan Heffner has demonstrated strong qualifications to serve as United States Marshal. We expect him to serve with professionalism, responsibility, and a clear focus on the mission of the … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Durbin Statement On Committee Passage Of Bill To Protect Special Counsel Investigation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Committee voted 14-7 to pass bipartisan legislation to protect the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller: "Senators of both parties have made comments in the press that the Special Counsel's investigation must be allowed to proceed. We are dealing with a President who has repeatedly attempted to undermine the integrity of that investigation. This … Continue Reading
April 20, 2018
Durbin, Democratic Senators Introduce Bill To Limit Use Of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today introduced legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for inmates separated from the general prison population. The Solitary Confinement Reform Act limits solitary confinement to the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions possible, improves access to mental health … Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Durbin Statement On 7th Circuit Upholding Injunction Against Sessions Threat To Chicago Violence Prevention Funding
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal injunction blocking an attempt by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to deny Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants ("Byrne-JAG") to communities that refuse to cooperate with the Trump Administration's deportation agenda: "The Trump Administration exceeded its legal authority by trying to cut off the federal funds our police use to fight gun … Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Judiciary Committee Unanimously Approves Nominations Of Michael Scudder & Amy St. Eve For The 7th Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance the nominations of Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. and U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve to serve as Circuit Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based in Chicago: "Judge St. Eve and Mr. Scudder have the experience, integrity, and judgment that we look for in federal judges, and we expect them to serve with … Continue Reading