People For the American Way

PFAW Statement on Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2017

Contact: Drew Courtney at People For the American Way

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: 202-467-4999

WASHINGTON–In response to the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, the first of four nominees to U.S. Courts of Appeals being pushed through by Senator Mitch McConnell this week, People For the American Way Executive Vice President Marge Baker issued the following statement:

“As Americans see more and more evidence of the corruption and dishonesty at the heart of the Trump administration, Senator McConnell has set up a week of votes that will make clear whether or not Republicans are in lockstep with President Trump. Today we saw that despite the latest revelations about the Trump campaign and despite the extremism of the nominee, Republicans are still eager to fall in line to help Donald Trump pack the courts. Again and again since January, we’ve seen independent courts stand up against Trump and his illegal, unconstitutional agenda. Yet when he asks Republican senators to support nominees who will rubberstamp his overreach, they rush to do so.

“Today’s vote is a win for Trump’s extreme agenda and a win for far-right activists who have spent years pushing biased partisans who will put their own agenda above the Constitution’s principles of equality and justice. For Americans who depend on independent courts to protect our rights, it’s a big loss.”

People For the American Way has previously sent letters to Capitol Hill opposing the confirmation of all four nominees being considered on the Senate floor this week:

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and defend constitutional values including free expression, religious liberty, equal justice under the law, and the right to meaningfully participate in our democracy.

###