Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
As The Trump Administration Attacks DACA, Durbin Calls On Chairman Grassley To Schedule A Committee Vote On The Dream Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting denouncing the Trump Administration’s attacks on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program—which protects Dreamers from deportation and gives them the chance to contribute more fully to the nation they love. During his opening, Durbin … Continue Reading
April 29, 2026
Durbin Presses Trump’s Judicial Nominee About His Involvement In A Controversial Pro-Gun Group
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned judicial nominees during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Durbin first questioned Arthur Roberts Jones, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, about his recent involvement with Gun Owners of America. The organization has criticized the National Rifle Association (NRA) for being too moderate, proudly claiming that it is “the only … Continue Reading
April 28, 2026
Durbin Statement On Latest Baseless Indictment Of James Comey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding reporting that the Trump Administration secured a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, after its first ended in failure: “With the Justice Department riddled with turmoil, its political leadership is clearly desperate to continue to appease Donald Trump by appealing to his worst instincts and need for petty … Continue Reading
April 28, 2026
Durbin Continues To Call For Reforms To FISA Section 702
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Section 702 allows the government to collect the private communications of foreigners overseas without a warrant. The problem is that millions, and potentially billions, of innocent Americans’ communications with friends, family members, or co-workers abroad … Continue Reading
April 27, 2026
Durbin Speaks Out Against Gun Violence After Chicago Police Officer Dies In Line Of Duty, Gunman Attempts Attack At White House Correspondents’ Dinner
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor to denounce both political and gun violence in the wake of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew’s death while in the line of duty, as well as the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Durbin began his remarks by honoring Officer Bartholomew, who lost his life after a suspect opened fire in a hospital following his arrest for armed … Continue Reading
April 27, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Urge GSA To Uphold Duty To Properly Maintain Dirksen Courthouse & Roszkowski Courthouse
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to the General Service Administration (GSA) urging the Administration to address ongoing maintenance and infrastructure issues at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and the Stanley J. Roszkowski U.S. Courthouse, both within the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL). The conditions at the Dirksen Courthouse in particular reflect longstanding deficiencies resulting from a … Continue Reading
April 24, 2026
Durbin Statement On DOJ Actions To Expand Use Of Federal Death Penalty, Reinstate Firing Squads And Flawed Lethal Injection Protocol
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced actions to expand the use of the federal death penalty, including readopting firing squads and flawed lethal injection protocol: “State-sanctioned killing is not justice. Today, DOJ is turning back the clock by strengthening the barbaric practice of the federal death penalty—a cruel, immoral, and … Continue Reading
April 21, 2026
Durbin, Grassley Celebrate Senate Passage Of Bill Securing Nationwide Background Checks For Child Care Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, celebrated passage of their bipartisan Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act to ensure all individuals with unsupervised access to children—including contractors hired by schools—are authorized to receive a nationwide background check. “Kids in schools should be … Continue Reading
April 20, 2026
Durbin Speaks On Latest Kash Patel Revelations, Urges Replacement
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel to be replaced after The Atlantic published an article outlining his excessive drinking and unexplained absences. Durbin began by characterizing Patel’s tenure, saying: “When Kash Patel was confirmed, I said that he had neither the experience, judgment, nor temperament to lead the … Continue Reading
April 20, 2026
Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is set to expire on April 30. Section 702 grew out of a secret warrantless surveillance program conducted by the Bush Administration after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. When this illegal spying program was exposed, Congress enacted … Continue Reading
April 18, 2026
Following Reports Of Excessive Drinking And Inappropriate Behavior, Durbin Calls For Kash Patel To Be Replaced As FBI Director
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel to be replaced after The Atlantic published an article outlining his excessive drinking and unexplained absences: “President Trump’s FBI Director Kash Patel is destroying one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world. Like Noem and Bondi, it’s time to replace … Continue Reading
April 15, 2026
Durbin Presses Trump Loyalist Nominated To A Lifetime Judicial Position On The Outcome Of The 2020 Election
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned judicial nominees during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Durbin first questioned Justin Smith, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, about the 2020 presidential election. Mr. Smith is a President Trump loyalist and election denier. In 2020, he signed an amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania, seeking to overturn the results of the … Continue Reading
April 15, 2026
Durbin Denounces Trump Loyalist Nominated To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Eighth Circuit During Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Justin Smith, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; Jeffrey Kuhlman, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas; Anthony Mattivi, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas; and Anthony Powell to the U.S. District Court for the District of … Continue Reading
April 14, 2026
Durbin, Hawley, New Mexico Attorney General Demand Action To Protect Children Online
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez stood alongside child safety advocates to demand that Congress take decisive action to protect America’s children online by passing critical bipartisan legislation, including U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) and Durbin’s Sunset Section 230 Act, Durbin’s and Hawley’s STOP CSAM Act, and the Kids … Continue Reading
April 14, 2026
Republicans Reject Durbin’s Unanimous Consent Request To Pass Resolution In Honor Of Robert Mueller
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced that honors the life of the late former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller. During his speech, Durbin praised Director Mueller for his service to our country as a Marine during the Vietnam War, where he earned both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, as well as his many years of public service in the Department … Continue Reading
April 13, 2026
Durbin Speaks On Future Of Justice Department Following Pam Bondi’s Firing
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed the future of the Department of Justice (DOJ) after President Trump’s firing of Pam Bondi and the beginning of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s temporary tenure. Durbin began by addressing Bondi’s firing, saying: “She transformed the Department from the nation’s preeminent law enforcement agency into a political entity, and, … Continue Reading
April 10, 2026
Durbin Releases GAO Report Detailing FDA & DOJ’s Failure To Crack Down On The Thousands Of Kid-Friendly Flavored Vaping Products Illegally On The Market
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) newly-completed report examining the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) interagency enforcement activities related to the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. In August 2024, Durbin requested the report from GAO as FDA neglected to complete its long-overdue review of pre-market tobacco product … Continue Reading
April 07, 2026
Durbin, Senate Democrats Slam Proposed DOJ Power Grab Targeting State Bar Associations’ Ethics Probes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of Senators—including all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats—in a written comment to the Department of Justice yesterday, denouncing a proposed rule overriding state bar authorities’ ethics probes. The proposed rule is in direct violation of the McDade Amendment, which was designed to confirm that the Attorney General did not have the authority to exempt Department … Continue Reading
March 26, 2026
Durbin Honors The Late Robert Mueller During A 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 honoring the late former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Robert Mueller. Durbin praised Mueller for his service to our country as a Marine during the Vietnam War. He earned both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service. During his opening, Durbin also … Continue Reading
March 25, 2026
Durbin Questions Durham County Sheriff About The Impact Of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign On Local Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON - During today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Clarence Birkhead, Sheriff of Durham County, North Carolina, about the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign and its impact on local law enforcement. Durbin first asked Sheriff Birkhead about how immigration enforcement can erode trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. “The Chiefs of … Continue Reading