Senate Must Advance Vanita Gupta’s Historic Nomination to Serve as Associate Attorney General

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Stephen Peters, [email protected], 202.466.1887

WASHINGTON — Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee vote split along party lines on President Biden’s nomination of Vanita Gupta to serve as associate attorney general:

“Vanita Gupta is exactly the leader we need in this role at this critical moment for our country. Now is not the time for baseless and harmful partisan tactics. With broad support that crosses ideological divides, Gupta is a consensus builder who will bring vital civil rights and racial justice experience to the Justice Department. The country needs Gupta and her experience in this important role now, and the Senate must take swift and immediate action to confirm her.”

If confirmed, Gupta would be the first woman of color to serve as associate attorney general, and the first civil rights lawyer to serve in one of the top three positions at the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Gupta’s nomination has widespread, bipartisan support from civil and human rights organizations, law enforcement organizations, progressive and conservative groups, and many others across the country. In February, The Leadership Conference released a letter signed by more than 100 organizations urging the Senate to confirm Gupta. That letter of support is available here and additional letters from other individuals, organizations, and coalitions are available here.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 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 member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.