Latino, Women, African-American, and Financial Reform Leaders Condemn Senate Failure to Confirm Loretta Lynch before Recess

WASHINGTON – Earlier today, leaders of organizations representing Latino, women, African-American, and financial reform organizations hosted a press call condemning Senate leadership for adjourning the Senate today without voting on the confirmation of Loretta Lynch for U.S. Attorney General.

Despite being indisputably qualified and already twice-confirmed unanimously by the Senate for U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Loretta Lynch has had to wait longer for a confirmation vote than any nominee for Attorney General in 30 years. Lynch, who would be the first African-American woman to be Attorney General, has been delayed for reasons that have nothing to do with her qualifications or character. Given the many issues facing the nation, the country desperately needs a seamless transition and a continued steady hand at the Justice Department.

Below are select quotes from the call:

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

“The nation may now need to wait six months to confirm an Attorney General, if not longer. This has not been a confirmation process, it has been a ‘trial by ordeal’ that has moved from the ridiculous, to the absurd, to the reckless.”

Chanelle Hardy, executive director of the National Urban League Washington Bureau

“This is not governing. This is ugly political posturing. The fact that an eminently qualified African-American woman who is the first to be a nominee for Attorney General is being so shamefully treated raises deeply troubling questions about whether her race and gender have played a role in this matter. Indeed, our young women and girls, men and boys of all races, are no doubt receiving a message that says: If you work hard, if you play fair, if you choose a career of public service, you may still encounter a glass ceiling – even when the world is watching.”

Janet Murguía, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza

“That Loretta Lynch has yet to be confirmed as Attorney General is a travesty. Not one person has disputed either her qualifications or her ability to do the job. She has strong bipartisan support and this is why the National Council of La Raza wholeheartedly supports her confirmation.”

Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending

“Lynch has impeccable credentials, distinguished experience, and her values have shown that she is committed to independent and fair application and enforcement of our laws, and in particular, protecting working American families from economic and consumer violations of our protections. It’s time for this to end and for this extraordinary candidate to be confirmed.”

Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington Bureau

“It makes no sense whatsoever that what we have in our hands now is a confirmation that has taken longer as an attorney general than the seven previous confirmations combined. America deserves to have this process move forward, as it is said in our Constitution, so the Senate can exercise its advice and consent responsibilities and allow this vote to come to the floor in the light of day, to be debated and discussed and, finally, the vote had. Hopefully, what we’ll see in America is the confirmation of the first African-American attorney general of the United States.”

Casey Harden, vice president of Mission Impact, YWCA USA

“YWCA USA, serving more than two million women and families nationwide, has supported Loretta Lynch since she was nominated and continues to mobilize our network over 100 days after her nomination. We are chagrined to still be pushing for her confirmation today. We will continue to support her and repeat: It has been too long.”