Today House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Chair of the Immigration Subcommittee, and New York Member of Congress Tim Bishop (D-NY) addressed the recent hate crime murders in New York, calling for an end to ethnic and racially motivated violence, pledging to pass strong hate crimes legislation in the 111th Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC-- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) wrote Attorney General Michael Mukasey seeking information about the basis for Mr. Mukasey’s recent assertion that the Administration officials who signed off on torture and surveillance policies believed that their actions were lawful. The Members pointed out that this assertion was difficult to square with the record showing there were significant internal objections to the legal approval of these policies and was also premature in light of the numerous investigations underway looking at these very issues, including investigations by the Department’s own internal watchdogs.

NEW YORK, NY – In response to last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) issued the following statement:

“I am shocked and saddened by the horrendous and cowardly attacks committed against innocent people in Mumbai.  I stand in solidarity with the Indian people and government and offer my deepest sympathy to those who lost loved ones.  This heinous act of terror simultaneously targeted Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews.  The whole world mourns their loss, and we must all do more to prevent terrorists from organizing, training and obtaining the resources necessary to commit such unspeakable atrocities.

NEW YORK, NY – Today, following the announcement of Senator Hillary Clinton’s appointment to be Secretary of State, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) issued this statement:

“I am extremely pleased by President-elect Obama’s decision to appoint Senator Clinton to be Secretary of State.  This is not simply good news for the United States but is a genuine leap forward for global peace, humanitarianism, and the sort of tough and intelligent diplomacy that we – the United States and the world – so desperately need.  To tackle a truly daunting number of international wars and crises will require a Secretary of State with tremendous ability.  Senator Clinton has that ability and is exactly the person to heal the unfortunate rifts between our nation and much of the world.  She will bring to the table a deep knowledge of foreign affairs and far-reaching personal relationships that will make her a natural Secretary of State.  President-elect Obama could not have made a better choice.  Congratulations to Senator Clinton.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, introduced a Resolution in the House of Representatives demanding that President Bush refrain from issuing pre-emptive pardons of senior officials in his Administration during the final 90 days of office.  H.RES.1531 is in response to President Bush’s widespread abuses of power and potentially criminal transgressions against our Constitution.  The Resolution aims to prevent undeserved pardons of officials who may have been co-conspirators in the President’s unconstitutional policies, such as torture, illegal surveillance and curtailing of due process for defendants.