On the Heels of US Attorneys Firings Revelations,
Nadler Investigates More Politicization at
Justice Department

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, in the wake of the growing Justice Department scandal involving firings of a number of US Attorneys, US Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chair of House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, began oversight hearings on the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, focusing as well on charges of politicization.  Those charges were the subject of an important report released yesterday by the Citizens’ Commission on Civil Rights.  The Civil Rights Division, established by Civil Rights Act of 1957, is charged with the enforcement of the nation’s civil rights laws, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion and national origin. 

The Commission’s report, entitled "The Erosion of Rights: Declining Civil Rights Enforcement Under the Bush Administration," was authored by a bi-partisan group of career civil rights professionals and systematically documents a stark pattern of the politicization of the Division’s work.  In numerous areas of the Division’s responsibilities, such as the Voting Rights Act enforcement, mounting allegations point to the fact that Bush Administration political considerations have consistently trumped the recommendations of career staff.  In these cases, the courts have upheld the recommendations of the civil rights professionals in the Division, and have struck down the political decisions imposed by what some have called the "Shadow Civil Rights Division."

"From the US Attorneys firings to the deeply disturbing revelations of this report on the Civil Rights Division, an extremely disturbing pattern is emerging from this Administration -- one of relentless political interference in the basic enforcement of our laws," said Chairman Nadler.  He added, "If the rule of law is to have any meaning, if the civil rights laws this Committee produces are to have any value, then we must be assured that those laws will be enforced without fear or favor."

            The Subcommittee will hear testimony today from the following witnesses:

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