Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Calls on DOJ to Provide Increased Support for Gun Violence Prevention Initiatives in Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session asking for prompt U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) support on a number of gun violence prevention initiatives as we head into the summer months when shootings typically increase. Durbin is asking DOJ to expand the ability for Chicago-area law enforcement to use resources that can significantly reduce gun violence, including the operation of Strategic Decision Support Centers (SDSCs) and improved … Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Durbin Statement on Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Connection
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: This is a critical step and I'm glad Mr. Rosenstein took it. The past 48 hours have shown the lengths that the President and his Administration will go to hinder and halt this investigation, so I will withhold judgment pending its progress. The eyes of the nation are on Mr. Mueller and his team. The special counsel will examine and prosecute any crimes that may have been committed, but this will not … Continue Reading
May 12, 2017
Durbin: Rosenstein Must Appoint Special Prosecutor or Resign
DECATUR-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: In an interview with NBC News, President Trump admitted to firing FBI Director James Comey because of his investigation of the Trump campaign's Russian connections-that is dangerously close to obstruction of justice. This morning, the President tweeted a thinly veiled threat to Mr. Comey, which could be construed as threatening a witness in this investigation, which is another violation of federal law. … Continue Reading
May 12, 2017
Durbin Statement on AG Sessions Move to Force Needlessly Harsh Prison Sentences for Nonviolent Drug Offenses
CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on a new Justice Department policy that rescinds the Smart on Crime Initiative, which directed federal prosecutors to reserve stiff mandatory minimum sentences for individuals convicted of the most serious offenses, and instead requires prosecutors to seek the longest possible sentence even for low-level nonviolent offenses: This policy shift flies in the face of the growing bipartisan consensus that we … Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Durbin Statement on Removal of FBI Director James Comey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced that FBI Director James Comey had been terminated. The news comes as the Trump Administration faces growing scrutiny over possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. "The termination and removal of James Comey as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation raises the critical question as to whether the FBI investigation of Russian … Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Durbin Questions Yates and Clapper about Trump's Connection to Russia
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) questioned former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper about Russia's cyber act of war against the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Durbin asked Yates about the extent of the Trump Administration's knowledge of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's communications with Russia, noting that Flynn … Continue Reading
April 25, 2017
Durbin: Deputy AG Must be Independent Check on AG Sessions' Extreme Views
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will vote in favor of Rod Rosenstein's nomination to be U.S. Deputy Attorney General after the nominee pledged to be an independent voice in the Justice Department. Durbin stressed that, as Deputy Attorney General, Rosenstein must play a critical role in "reining in the Attorney General's worst instincts on immigration," including by mitigating Sessions' threat to withhold federal funding from law enforcement in cities across … Continue Reading
April 12, 2017
Senators Call on Deputy Attorney General Nominee to Address Recent DOJ Criminal Justice and Police Reform Developments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) called on Deputy Attorney General nominee Rod Rosenstein - who, if confirmed, would oversee the Department of Justice's criminal justice and police reform efforts - to explain how he would respond after Attorney General Jeff Sessions signaled a reversal of those efforts. In a letter to Rosenstein, the senators asked if he was consulted … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Durbin, Schatz, Hassan, Schumer Press United Airlines for Answers Following the Forcible Removal of a Passenger
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are pressing United Airlines for answers following the forcible removal of a ticketed passenger on Flight 3411 from Chicago, Illinois to Louisville, Kentucky. "Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive, and we hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make necessary improvements to ensure it … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Durbin: Trump Nominee Will Enter Supreme Court with an Asterisk
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell changed Senate rules to allow Supreme Court nominations to advance on a simple majority vote. For decades, Senate rules have required 60 votes to end debate on a Supreme Court nomination, helping to ensure some measure of bipartisan support and prevent confirmation of justices with extremist views. Earlier today, President Donald Trump's nominee for the … Continue Reading
April 05, 2017
Durbin Joins Merkley in Protest Against Gorsuch Nomination on the Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - Before sunrise, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined his colleague Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) on the Senate floor to discuss their opposition to President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch. Senators Durbin and Merkley slammed Senate Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's Supreme Court nominee last year as well as the Republican Senate Majority Leader's rush to limit debate on Judge Gorsuch's nomination. Senator Merkley held the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2017
Durbin, Bustos, McKinley Press Attorney General Sessions to Fully Exempt Bureau of Prisons from Hiring Freeze
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and David McKinley (R-WV) today urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately and fully exempt the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) from the federal hiring freeze ordered by President Donald Trump on January 23, 2017. In a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the lawmakers stressed that the security of our nation's prisons and the safety of our communities are at stake as long as the … Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Durbin: Nunes Must Withdraw From Investigation of Trump's Russian Connection
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: Devin Nunes should have the decency to withdraw as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee investigation of President Trump's Russian connections. Paul Ryan, as Speaker, should have the strength to remove him if he doesn't. Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) was named to the Executive Committee of President Trump's Transition Team on November 11th, … Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Durbin Opposes President Trump's Supreme Court Nominee
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced his opposition to President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch. Durbin reiterated his concerns over Gorsuch's record of siding with powerful interests over working Americans, students with disabilities, and victims of discrimination. In light of the legal and constitutional disputes surrounding President Trump, Senator Durbin also stressed the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Durbin: Gorsuch Lowered The Bar For Rights Of Students With Disabilities
WASHINGTON - During the third day of confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, raised serious concerns about Judge Gorsuch's record of ruling against students with disabilities. Senator Durbin pressed the 10th Circuit judge to explain why he ruled to deny a child with severe autism access to the educational services to which he was legally entitled under the … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Durbin Grills Scotus Nominee Gorsuch On Labor, Human Rights And Civil Rights Record
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today grilled President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, regarding his dubious record on civil and workers' rights. Durbin asked the nominee to cite specific examples to justify his claims that, as judge, he's stood up for the rights of minorities, women, and LGBT Americans. "What you said earlier was that you have a record of speaking out, standing up for those minorities … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Durbin Statement On FBI Investigation Of Trump’s Russian Connections
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the testimony of FBI Director James Comey before the House Intelligence Committee: Director Comey confirmed that the FBI is investigating possible criminal collusion between officials with President Trump's campaign and the Russian government. We need a special prosecutor to pursue any criminal charges and a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate this … Continue Reading
March 19, 2017
Durbin, Davis Introduce New Legislation to Support Children Traumatized by Community Violence
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Danny Davis today unveiled the Trauma Informed Care for Children and Families Act, which is designed to address the toxic stress and trauma that impacts many children from Chicago's most violent neighborhoods. "As we work to address the root causes of violence, we need to focus on the impact that community violence and other traumatic experiences have on Chicago's children," said Durbin. "During a visit to the Cook County … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Durbin, Grassley Bill Will Require Supreme Court To Allow Cameras In The Courtroom
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation today to require open proceedings of the Supreme Court to be televised. The bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act of 2017 would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the Court decides, by a majority vote of the Justices, that doing so would constitute a violation of … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Durbin, Senate Steering Committee Discuss Transparency In A Post-Truth Presidency
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after taking part in a Senate Democratic Steering Committee roundtable discussion on dark money, corruption, and conflicts of interest under the Trump Administration. As part of "Sunshine Week," a national initiative to raise awareness about the importance of open government and freedom of information, Democratic senators heard from policy experts and advocates of open government. "At this pivotal moment in our … Continue Reading