Thread: Obama’s Cop Killer Supporting Nominee For The Civil Rights Department Rejected by Sen

Obama’s Cop Killer Supporting Nominee For The Civil Rights Department Rejected by Senate

Written By : Michael Dorstewitz
March 6, 2014



It took the “nay” votes of seven Democratic senators to do it, but President Obama’s controversial nominee to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division was defeated by a 47-52 vote Wednesday afternoon.
Debo P. Adegbile gained notoriety during his association with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund when he volunteered to defend Mumia Abu-Jamal, the murderer of Philadelphia cop Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
While everyone is entitled to a vigorous defense, Adegbile described his role as Abu-Jamal’s defense lawyer as “a great honor,” prompting U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to make an impassioned floor speech urging the body to reject the nomination.
The president excoriated the vote, calling it “a travesty based on wildly unfair character attacks against a good and qualified public servant,” according to Roll Call, which reported:

Democrats Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Chris Coons of Delaware, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and John Walsh of Montana all voted no. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also voted no in order to preserve his right to reconsider the vote. If Adegbile had mustered just two more votes plus Reid, Vice President Joseph Biden was on hand to cast a possible tie-breaking vote.

Both of Pennsylvania’s senators, Democrat Robert Casey and Republican Pat Toomey, announced their opposition, according to Fox News.
“I respect that our system of law ensures the right of all citizens to legal representation no matter how heinous the crime,” Casey said in a statement.
“At the same time, it is important that we ensure that Pennsylvanians and citizens across the country have full confidence in their public representatives — both elected and appointed. The vicious murder of Officer Faulkner in the line of duty and the events that followed in the 30 years since his death have left open wounds for Maureen Faulkner and her family as well as the city of Philadelphia. After carefully considering this nomination and having met with both Mr. Adegbile as well as the Fraternal Order of Police, I will not vote to confirm the nominee.”

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http://www.rightwingnews.com/crime/o...ted-by-senate/

Obama Issues Furious Statement After Senate Democrats Vote Down His Controversial Nominee

Brett LoGiurato Mar. 5, 2014, 2:01 PM

AP

Eight Senate Democrats on Wednesday helped vote down President Barack Obama's controversial nominee to become assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
The vote against Debo Adegbile clearly infuriated Obama. It was the first time one of his nominees failed to be confirmed since the Senate rules changed to allow nominees to be confirmed by simple majority vote last November. Since Democrats control the Senate, this change, known as the "nuclear option," was expected to forge a clear path for Obama's nominees.
"The Senate’s failure to confirm Debo Adegbile to lead the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice is a travesty based on wildly unfair character attacks against a good and qualified public servant," Obama said in an angry written statement sent out Wednesday. "Mr. Adegbile’s qualifications are impeccable. He represents the best of the legal profession, with wide-ranging experience, and the deep respect of those with whom he has worked. His unwavering dedication to protecting every American’s civil and Constitutional rights under the law — including voting rights — could not be more important right now."
Eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans in voting against Adegbile — Sens. Chris Coons (Del.), Bob Casey (Pa.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Joe Manchin (W.V.), Joe Donnolly (Ind.), John Walsh (Mont.), and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.). Reid voted against the nomination to be able to bring it up for consideration again at a later date.
Adegbile's nomination came under intense scrutiny because of his history as a legal counsel on the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund — particularly his involvement in a case involving Mumia Abu-Jamal. The NAACP's fund helped overturn Abu-Jamal's death sentence for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.
In 2009, Adegbile filed a court brief arguing Abu-Jamal was sentenced by a discriminatory jury. A judge later determined the appeal had merit. Adegbile also was on the team representing Abu-Jamal when prosecutors again sought the death penalty.
Abu-Jamal's original 1981 case did have racially charged elements. One female stenographer reportedly heard the trial judge say to the prosecution he was going to help them "fry that n—." Abu-Jamal went on to become something of an icon among critics of the death penalty and police brutality.
Most of the Democratic senators who ended up voting against Adegbile were tight-lipped. Spokespeople for six of the seven (not counting Reid) did not respond to requests for comment. Coons, however, delivered a lengthy explanation of why he opposed the nomination.
"There is no question that Mr. Adegbile has had a significant and broad career as a leading civil rights advocate, and would be an asset to the Justice Department, but at a time when the Civil Rights Division urgently needs better relations with the law enforcement community, I was troubled by the idea of voting for an Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights who would face such visceral opposition from law enforcement on his first day on the job," Coons said, in part.
Coons added it was the toughest vote he's taken as a member of the Senate.

http://www.businessinsider.com/debo-...u-jamal-2014-3