At Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed President Trump's attacks on federal judges who have issued injunctions against him.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Before we hear from the nominees, I want to take a moment to speak about the ongoing attacks on the federal judiciary by President Trump and his allies.
00:09Last week, President Trump called for the impeachment of a federal judge simply because he ruled against the administration.
00:17He characterized that judge as a lunatic.
00:21The president was not alone. Elon Musk, the unelected co-president and the richest person in the world, has demanded the impeachment of federal judges dozens of times,
00:33and House Republicans quickly bent a knee and rushed to introduce articles of impeachment.
00:38I understand members of the Senate are also cheering that effort on.
00:42In response to this unprecedented attack on the federal judiciary, Chief Justice Roberts issued a rare statement.
00:49It read, and I quote, for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.
00:59The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose. End of quote.
01:04We cannot afford to wait and see if this president formally announces he will defy a court order.
01:10We must respond to this dangerous attack on our courts and judges now.
01:15Some right-wing activists have argued that impeachment is necessary because of the number of injunctions issued against President Trump compared to other presidents.
01:26They claim that this is evidence that federal judges are biased against this president.
01:31I would suggest there's a simpler and more plausible explanation.
01:36The number of injunctions issued against first and second Trump administrations is evidence of a president who repeatedly tests or violates the law.
01:45The danger posed by the Trump administration's attack on the judiciary is not abstract.
01:51I recall when there was a demonstration outside the home of a Supreme Court justice.
01:56We heard over and over again that we should never condone violence in the pursuit of political goals.
02:02I joined in that chorus on a bipartisan basis and hope to hell that my colleagues on the committee will do that today because we have this serious attack on the judiciary taking place.
02:13It's not abstract. The recent invective by the president and his allies has resulted in increased threats to the lives of judges and their families.
02:22This is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.
02:26We can debate the value of nationwide injunctions and the merits of any particular judicial decision,
02:32but violence or threats of violence, whether from the right or the left on the political spectrum, are never, never acceptable.
02:41I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisles to join me in opposing this ongoing attack on the judiciary.
02:47Unfortunately, Attorney General Bondi and other officials of justice have repeatedly shown that they will not defend the separation of powers.
02:55Their loyalty lies with the president. It should lie with the American people and the Constitution.
03:01The loss of an independent Department of Justice is not only a threat to the rule of law, it makes our country less safe.
03:08This is especially true of our national security.
03:11Since the start of this administration, every senior career National Security Division official has been removed from their position, every one of them.
03:21Following this purge, one former Justice Department official said, and I quote, there's literally no one at home.
03:28The lights are off. That is a disturbing statement. It reflects a serious problem that cannot be easily fixed.
03:35Among today's nominees is John Eisenberg, who dropped by my office yesterday.
03:39We had an opportunity to discuss his aspiration to be leading the National Security Division.
03:46I hope for the sake of the nation that Mr. Eisenberg is willing to place country above any personal allegiance to any political figure.
03:56We're also going to hear from Patrick Davis, nominated to lead the Office of Legislative Affairs.
04:02At her confirmation hearing, Attorney General Bondi committed to Chair Grassley that she or her top staff would, quote,
04:09personally review oversight requests from all members of the committee and do, quote, everything we can to respond to you.
04:16I have sent more than 20 overnight oversight requests to the Trump administration.
04:22I have yet to receive a single meaningful response to the vast majority of them, including seven to the Justice Department.
04:29When the shoe was on the other foot and I chaired this committee and they refused to respond to Chairman Grassley's similar request,
04:36I stood up for him and I was happy to do so.
04:39Whether you're on one side of the table or the other, you're entitled to the dignity of a request and professional treatment.
04:46Mr. Davis, I hope that you'll take that to heart.
04:49I'm also concerned about legal arguments Mr. Shoemade, who's been nominated to lead the Civil Division, has made since returning to the Justice Department.
04:59While all attorneys have a duty to zealously advocate for their clients, which of course includes the U.S. government,
05:06they must do so within the confines of the law.
05:09Yet in defending President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship,
05:14Mr. Shoemade claimed any judicial order blocking it would be, quote, wildly inappropriate, his words.
05:21That is an unacceptable position for a Justice Department official to take, especially with respect to an order that is patently unconstitutional.
05:29As the judge presiding over the case stated, and I quote,
05:33I am having trouble understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this order is constitutional.
05:40The disintegration of an independent Justice Department before our very eyes,
05:45including the removal of key national security and counterterrorism officials, should be alarming on both sides of the table.
05:52The department is critical to protecting America's public safety and protecting the rights and liberties of all, all Americans.
05:59I hope to learn more about these nominees' commitments to these efforts and look forward to their testimony.
06:04Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
06:06Thank you, Senator Durbin. Now does Senator Graham.