Panel Approves Nadler’s Call to Compel Testimony of Justice’s Head Voting Rights Official

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today passed a resolution to compel the testimony of Christopher Coates, Chief of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Voting Section.  The resolution was adopted by the Subcommittee on a vote of eight to two.

“This whole exercise could have been easily avoided if the Justice Department had acted properly,” said Rep. Nadler. “This administration’s penchant for secrecy and monarchical power has resulted in an unprecedented resistance even to the most routine congressional oversight.  While it is always preferable to have expert witnesses appear voluntarily, sometimes it is necessary to compel them to come before Congress.”

Specifically, the Subcommittee approved a “resolution authorizing the Chairman of the Committee to issue a subpoena to Christopher Coates for testimony at a hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Regarding the Department of Justice voting rights enforcement plans for the 2008 Presidential Election.” 

On July 24th, the Subcommittee held a hearing on “Lessons Learned from the 2004 Presidential Election,” to which the Department had been invited to attend voluntarily.  The Department refused to provide a witness.  Today’s approval of a subpoena is necessary to ensure that the Subcommittee is able to exercise its oversight responsibilities on voting rights issues.