Civil and Human Rights Coalition Commends Advancement of Lynch Nomination, Urges Swift and Overwhelming Senate Confirmation

Media 02.26.15

WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement in response to this morning’s Senate Judiciary Committee vote to advance the nomination of Loretta Lynch to be the next U.S. Attorney General:

“We commend the members of the Judiciary Committee who voted today to advance the long overdue nomination of Loretta Lynch for Attorney General of the United States, especially those Republican members who brushed aside partisan rhetoric to support this historic and superbly qualified nominee.

We hope the reasoned voices of Senators Orrin Hatch, Jeff Flake, and Lindsey Graham will resonate with their Republican colleagues as the nomination moves to the Senate floor. Lynch has been a strong, independent prosecutor who has twice headed one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country and had decades of experience as a lawyer and a leader. It’s also worth noting that not a single witness at her confirmation hearing said she should not be confirmed. Lynch will  be an exceptional attorney general who will also make history as the first African-American woman to hold the office. 

Continuing to delay this nomination and using it as a proxy for policy disagreements with the president is anathema to the Senate’s solemn obligation to provide ‘advice and consent’ on nominees.  We urge the full Senate to take up this nomination as soon as possible and to vote overwhelmingly to confirm Loretta Lynch.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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