Sen. Toomey: President Obama Thwarting the Bipartisan Judgment of the U.S. Senate in Appointing Debo Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Allentown, Pa. - Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement on President Obama's decision to appoint Debo Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, despite the U.S. Senate's bipartisan rejection of Mr. Adegbile to serve in a civil rights post in 2014:

"In 2014, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate agreed that Debo Adegbile was not fit to represent the people of the United States in enforcing Americans' civil rights-then, as head of the Justice Department's Civil Right Division. And with good reason.

"Mr. Adegbile did not simply defend a client. He supervised an effort to lionize unrepentant cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal, who cold-bloodedly murdered Philadelphia police officer Danny Faulkner 35 years ago. Mr. Adegbile supervised the effort to spread misinformation about the trial and evidence, fabricate claims of racism, malign Philly police, and organize rallies across the globe that portrayed this brutal cop-killer as the victim.

"President Obama's decision to nevertheless appoint Mr. Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer in America.

"President Obama added insult to injury by lauding Mr. Adegbile, saying, ‘He represents the best of the legal profession' and evinced an ‘unwavering dedication to protecting every American's civil and constitutional rights under the law.' What about the rights of Danny Faulkner and his widow Maureen?

"A Democrat-led U.S. Senate evaluated the facts and agreed that Debo Adegbile is not fit to represent the American people as an enforcer of civil rights. This judgment included the votes of seven Democrats. I call on President Obama to adhere to the bipartisan judgment of the U.S. Senate and withdraw his appointment of Debo Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights."

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