Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss the nomination of Debo Adegbile to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. As a representative of the city of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia police, and the family of slain officer Daniel Faulkner, I feel compelled to voice my concerns about this nomination for the record. In 2009, while Mr. Adegbile was serving as director of litigation for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense and Education Fund, that organization took on the defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mr. Abu-Jamal had 27 years earlier been convicted of the first-degree murder of Daniel Faulkner, a Philadelphia police officer. The political theatrics surrounding this case have deprived Officer Faulkner's widow Maureen Faulkner and others of the orderly process of justice they should have received as victims of a heinous crime. I believe strongly that people should have the right to criminal defense no matter what the circumstances. However, I am troubled by the legal defense fund's involvement in Mr. Abu-Jamal's defense at a time when he was ably represented by other counsel. The facts in the murder of Officer Daniel Faulkner while in the line of duty are not in dispute. The events and theatrics that surrounded this trial and that were fueled by the defense team here took an incredible toll on the Faulkner family, the law enforcement community, and the city of Philadelphia.…”