Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Releases Statement Expressing Disappointment with the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Handling of the Testimony by the Congressional Black Caucus Members

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Releases Statement Expressing Disappointment with the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Handling of the Testimony by the Congressional Black Caucus Members  

Washington, DC - (Wednesday, January 11, 2017) - Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement following the testimony by members of the Congressional Black Caucus before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Senator Jeff Sessions’ nomination for U.S. Attorney General.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Congressman John Lewis, and Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Congressman Cedric Richmond all testified in the final witness panel for Senator Sessions’ nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The CBC has strongly opposed the nomination of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. The CBC’s opposition stems from Senator Sessions 30 year career in public office where he was a leading advocate for various policies that are in direct conflict with the Congressional Black Caucus and its mission. Congresswoman Johnson attended the hearing along with other members of the CBC to show support and solidarity with the members that were testifying. 

“I was extremely disappointed with the Senate Judiciary Committee’s handling of the testifying members of the Congressional Black Caucus during Senator Sessions’ nomination hearing,” Congresswoman Johnson said upon leaving the hearing. “I found it very disrespectful that the Republican Senators on the committee did not feel the need to attend the hearing once it was time for the CBC to testify.  The only Republican present to hear the eloquent and insightful testimony from Senator Booker and Congressmen Lewis and Richmond was Senator Grassley. This slight only reinforced the idea that these Senators have the same attitude that Senator Sessions has had during his professional career, to discount the opinions of African-Americans.”

“To put the Black members of Congress on the last panel was a total break from normal procedure. Usually, as sign of professional courtesy and respect, committees will place fellow members of either chamber in the beginning not the end. It is also not lost on me that the Committee leadership decided to fill this particular witness panel with three other African-Americans to speak positively on Senator Sessions’ behalf. Our members were speaking on behalf of the millions of people we represent and the policies Senator Sessions has advocated for that has affected our constituents. The Committee’s Republican leadership saw it fitting to place three former African-American staffers that could only speak to how he treated them as an attempt to counter the CBC testimony. I urge this Committee and its chair, Senator Grassley, to reconsider the tone he is setting in these hearings and not to discount the voices and the millions of people that the Congressional Black Caucus represents.”  

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