Senate Confirms Vanita Gupta To Be Associate Attorney General

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the confirmation vote on the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be U.S. Associate Attorney General, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today urged his colleagues to support her nomination in a speech on the Senate floor. Durbin has continuously argued that Ms. Gupta is a dedicated, eminently qualified leader who can restore integrity and independence in the Justice Department. He also argued that Ms. Gupta is the right person at the right time for this position given her previous efforts to reform police departments in a number of cities when she led the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Shortly after, Ms. Gupta was confirmed on a bipartisan basis by the Senate, 51-49.

'She [Gupta] is a dedicated professional with an extraordinary resume who wants to continue to serve this country,' Durbin said. '…National Sheriffs Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs, 53 former Police Chiefs and Sheriffs… the Fraternal Order of Police… those of us in politics know you have to work to earn their support. Here's what they said about Vanita Gupta: 'Gupta always worked with us to find common ground, even when that seemed impossible.' Isn't that exactly what we want at this moment in American history as we cope with the civil rights challenges of our age? This is our chance.'

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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