Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Following Yesterday’s Cruel DHS Operation At A Preschool In Illinois, Durbin Again Calls For Secretary Noem To Testify In Front Of The Senate Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, in which he condemned the Trump Administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” in Illinois. Just yesterday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents arrested a preschool teacher inside the school where she worked. Durbin has repeatedly called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to … Continue Reading
November 05, 2025
Durbin Calls Out The Trump Administration For Their Efforts To Undermine Voting Rights Across The Country
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senate Democrats in speaking on the floor condemning the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine the right to vote. The floor speech comes after a successful election night for Democrats—where the American people overwhelmingly rejected the Trump Administration’s disastrous policies. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted the numerous ways the Trump Administration is … Continue Reading
October 30, 2025
Durbin Leads Judiciary Democrats In Calling On Chairman Grassley To Allow Former Special Counsel Jack Smith To Testify Publicly Before Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in sending a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) calling on him to allow former Special Counsel Jack Smith to testify before the Committee. In their letter, the Senators also urged Chairman Grassley to request the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) release Volume II of the unredacted “Final Report of the Special … Continue Reading
October 29, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Probe Trump $230 Million Settlement Claims Before Justice Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in probing President Trump’s claims pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking $230 million of taxpayer dollars in alleged damages. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Senators began by characterizing the claims as “yet another attempt by President Trump to weaponize his position of power for personal financial gain … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
Durbin Questions Former Biden Administration DHS Witness Who Specialized In Reducing Violent Extremism During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Political Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing that examined political violence. Durbin questioned Mr. William Braniff, who previously served as Director of the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or CP3, at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program was created under the Biden Administration to take a comprehensive approach to … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing, Debunking Republicans’ Claims That Political Violence Only Comes From The Left
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing that examined political violence—following the recent assassinations of Charlie Kirk, Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted assassination of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. During his opening, Durbin recognized the law enforcement officers who … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Questions Andrew Duva To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Criminal Division, Two Judicial Nominees During A Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Andrew Tysen Duva, nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, about the Public Integrity Section (PIN) at the Department of Justice (DOJ). PIN staff has been reduced from approximately 30 prosecutors at the end of the Biden Administration to now only two attorneys. Earlier this week, Durbin met with Mr. Duva, who reassured the Senator that … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Nomination Of Assistant Attorney General For The Criminal Division, Two Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Andrew Tysen Duva, nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division; William Jerrol Crain, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; and Alexander Coker Van Hook, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Implores Colleagues To Reform The Centuries-Old Insurrection Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, encouraged his colleagues to support commonsense reforms to the outdated Insurrection Act. Introduced by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Insurrection Act of 2025 would reform centuries-old legislation that gives the President broad and vague authority to deploy troops—either with or without the … Continue Reading
October 21, 2025
Durbin Statement On Forced Cutbacks For Federal Judiciary Due To Trump Shutdown
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement as today marks the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ reported trigger date forcing curtailed operations of the federal courts due to the Trump shutdown: “The impacts of the Trump government shutdown are now reaching our justice system. Because Republicans are choosing to put billionaire tax cuts ahead of affordable health care for all Americans, … Continue Reading
October 20, 2025
Durbin On “No Kings” Protest: Political Opposition & Peaceful Protests Are Not Rebellion, They Are The Bedrock Of Our Democracy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor recounting the events of Chicago’s “No Kings” protest over the weekend. In his remarks, Durbin further spoke about the Trump Administration’s appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn lower-court rulings that have temporarily paused the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago. “On Saturday, an estimated seven million Americans across … Continue Reading
October 20, 2025
Durbin Meets With Nominee For Assistant Attorney General For The Criminal Division
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Andrew T. Duva, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division: “This Administration shows no willingness to abide by the rule of law. As DOJ leadership exhibits no remorse for weaponizing our justice system, the American people are louder than ever in demanding a Justice Department that puts … Continue Reading
October 10, 2025
Durbin Statement On Judge Perry Granting Temporary Restraining Order Blocking National Guard Troops To Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s national guard deployment in Illinois for two weeks: “I welcome this ruling against the President’s diabolical plan. President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Illinois, without the consent or request of Illinois’ elected leaders, is … Continue Reading
October 09, 2025
Durbin Statement On Indictment Of New York Attorney General Letitia James
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James in federal court: “President Trump has successfully turned the Department of Justice into a shield to protect himself and his MAGA allies and a sword to attack his opponents, enabled by an Attorney General who follows orders. “This Administration shows no allegiance to our country nor the … Continue Reading
October 09, 2025
Durbin Condemns Unprovoked Trump Administration Escalation In Chicago, Attorney General Bondi’s Conduct At Oversight Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned the Trump Administration’s unprovoked and unlawful escalation of immigration enforcement in Chicago and the arrival of Texas National Guard troops. In an opening statement at a Committee executive business meeting, Durbin began by highlighting Republican hypocrisy, saying: “To my Republican colleagues, how would you react if a Democratic President deployed the National … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Opposes Nomination Of Stanley Woodward To Serve As Associate Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor opposing the nomination of Stanley Woodward, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Associate Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In his remarks, Durbin made clear that Mr. Woodward, who has been an active participant in gutting critical divisions at DOJ, is unfit to serve in this position. Mr. Woodward’s nomination is … Continue Reading
October 01, 2025
Calling Out Yesterday’s Partisan Hearing On Crime, Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting. Before voting on today’s nominees, Durbin expressed frustration about yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on crime. Rather than holding a hearing on the harms of the Trump Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional deployment of the military to police American cities as … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Durbin Presses Witnesses On Diversion Of Critical Federal Resources To Support President Trump’s Cruel Mass Deportation Scheme
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on reducing crime and making communities safer for all Americans. Rather than holding a hearing on the harms of military deployment to cities as Durbin requested, today’s hearing was politically framed to blame “blue cities” for Republicans’ refusals to support effective solutions to gun violence and glamorize the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, Durbin Slams Trump Administration’s Deployment Of Military To American Cities, Discredits Narrative That Crime Is Only A ‘Blue City’ Issue
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on reducing crime and making communities safer for all Americans. As President Trump has continuously threatened to deploy troops to Chicago, Durbin requested a hearing to examine the harms of military deployment to cities. While today’s hearing was politically reframed to blame “blue cities” for Republican … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Following Comey Indictment, Durbin Slams Trump Administration’s Blatant Politicization Of DOJ
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reprimanded the Trump Administration for weaponizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to attack President Trump’s personal enemies. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that political retribution was the true intention behind President Trump and Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi’s move to force Erik Siebert, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the … Continue Reading