Political Quotes

On the recordApril 3, 2025
the Senate will soon vote on the nominations of Dean John Sauer and Harmeet Dhillon, President Trump's nominees for Solicitor General and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. The Solicitor General represents the United States in the highest Court of the land, the Supreme Court. Mr. Sauer's failure to comply with court orders and his refusal to recuse himself from pending Trump matters render him unfit for this role. The Civil Rights Division--often called the ``crown jewel'' of the Justice Department--enforces landmark laws that prohibit discrimination and protect the right to vote. Ms. Dhillon's record makes it all too clear that she is not the right person to lead this division. Mr. Sauer's nomination is a danger to the rule of law. At his confirmation hearing, I asked him a very simple question that any first-year law student should be able to answer, let alone a nominee seeking Senate confirmation. When I asked him whether an elected official should be allowed to defy a Federal court order, Mr. Sauer said, ``Generally, if there's a direct court order that binds a federal or state official, they should follow it.'' I was appalled that someone seeking to become the ``Tenth Justice,'' as the Solicitor General is commonly known, would take such a position. As my colleague Senator Kennedy warned Mr.…
Said by
Dick Durbin
Democratic · Illinois

Share

More from Dick Durbin

Jul 16, 2026

Americans sent us to Congress not to observe the problems but to solve the problems. There is no greater long-term challenge before Congress than preserving Social Security.

durbin.senate.gov
Jul 17, 2026

Mr. Blanche, these survivors deserve much better. I want to recognize many of the survivors who are in the audience today. I thank them for their courage in speaking out. Tomorrow, we will hear from one of them during the outside witness…

durbin.senate.gov
Jul 16, 2026

I think this is going to fall in our jurisdiction here in the future, and I hope we take it seriously.

durbin.senate.gov
Jul 16, 2026

Some of them physically assaulted policemen in the Capitol, [and] some of them are guilty of serious crimes before that day. For the President to give a blanket pardon to these individuals is something you cannot explain to the American…

durbin.senate.gov

Other voices in this conversation