WASHINGTON, D.C.—People For the American Way Executive Vice President Marge Baker today released the following statement following the nomination hearing for Steven J. Menashi, Donald Trump’s intended nominee to a lifetime seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Menashi currently serves as associate counsel to President Trump and is the former top lawyer at the Department of Education under Secretary DeVos.

“Steven Menashi did nothing today to allay deep concerns about his extreme legal views or his history as Betsy DeVos’ right-hand man at Trump’s Department of Education. His own published statements display a deep hostility to Muslims, working-class families, LGBT Americans, and women. He played a key role in DeVos’ move to gut Title IX protections, and he has supported extreme positions on women’s reproductive health and religious-based discrimination. Americans can’t expect a fair hearing from this narrow-minded elitist, and the Senate should reject his nomination.”

People For the American Way is deeply concerned about the Trump administration’s efforts to install such narrow-minded elitists to lifetime seats on the federal bench. Our Vote the Courts 2020 project is designed to address this alarming trend by making the federal courts and federal judicial nominations a central issue in the upcoming elections. Learn more about PFAW’s Vote the Courts 2020 project here: https://www.pfaw.org/campaign/protecting-the-supreme-court/vote-the-courts-2020/

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.  

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