Tag: Vanita Gupta

Senate confirms Gupta nomination in tight vote

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The Senate on Wednesday narrowly voted 51-49 to confirm Vanita Gupta, President Biden‘s nominee for the No. 3 position at the Department of Justice (DOJ), despite stiff opposition from Republicans who had criticized her civil rights advocacy during the Trump administration. 

Just one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), voted in favor of Gupta. Vice President Kamala Harris would have cast the deciding vote if it had been a 50-50 roll call.  

As associate attorney general, Gupta will oversee the DOJ’s efforts on civil litigation and law enforcement issues. Continue reading.

Maddow explains exactly why John Cornyn is fighting new DOJ nominee — and it has nothing to do with qualifications

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MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow speculated Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is leading the charge against a key Justice Department nominee because she humiliated him.

Wednesday, Maddow recalled the extensive corruption of Texas cop Tom Coleman who arrested four dozen people claiming that he did an undercover operation and busted them for cocaine. An overwhelming number of those arrested were Black. There was no evidence, no recording of the alleged drug sales, no proof whatsoever. Still, the court believed his testimony over that of the individuals charged. Most were convicted and some were given sentences over 100 years. 

The officer, in that case, was an N-word-spouting racist honored with a police award as Lawman of the Year from then-Attorney General John Cornyn. Continue reading.