Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Kristen Clarke & Todd Kim

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nomination of Todd Kim to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) by a vote of 15-7 and the nomination of Kristen Clarke to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division by a vote of 11-11.  Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer may now file a discharge motion on Ms. Clarke’s nomination to place her on the executive calendar.  Ahead of the votes, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that Clarke and Kim are experienced leaders who can restore integrity and independence to the Department of Justice, take partisan politics out of the Department’s work, and faithfully execute the law.

Key quotes:

“Ms. Clarke has the breadth and depth of civil rights experience needed to revitalize the Civil Rights Division at this critical time.”

“She [Clarke] has earned support from five former Assistant Attorneys General of the Civil Rights Division of both political parties.  Her nomination is also supported by a bipartisan group of 59 former Senior DOJ Officials and U.S. Attorneys; and over 70 former state Attorneys General—again on a bipartisan basis.”

“Throughout her twenty year legal career, Ms. Clarke has forged relationships with federal, state, and local law enforcement—demonstrated by the strong support she has received from the Major Cities Chiefs Associations, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, over 40 prominent police chiefs and sheriffs, and Sheriff David Mahoney, who just this month stepped down as President of the National Sheriffs Association.”

“Mr. Kim is a leader and an experienced and award-winning appellate litigator with significant expertise in environment and natural resources law.”

“A large number of environmental law experts—who don’t often agree on much—all agree that Mr. Kim is the right person for this job.”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations. 

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