U.S. Sen. David Vitter is opposing President Obama's nomination of Debo Adegbile to head the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Adegbile previously worked as legal counsel to the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund, which helped overturn a death sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who murdered a police officer in Philadelphia.
"The DOJ's civil rights office has already led multiple attacks on Louisiana, and I don't think Mr. Adegbile, who volunteered to defend someone who murdered a police officer, should be in a position to go after state and local law enforcement agencies for alleged civil rights violations. That office targeted Louisiana with the National Voter Registration Act for political gain at the expense of identity security of each and every Louisianian on the voter rolls, and they led the charge discriminating against religious groups in Louisiana," Vitter said.
The U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, tasked with investigating state and local law enforcement agencies for alleged civil rights violations, is the office where Thomas Perez served as the Assistant Attorney General. Vitter was one of the leading voices in opposition to Thomas Perez's nomination in March 2013. Part of Vitter's concerns involved the Department of Justice's (DOJ) spotty enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act in Louisiana. Perez served as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at DOJ. In a 2011 letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Vitter asked DOJ to be consistent in its efforts to enforce the National Voter Registration Act.
In July 2013 the DOJ's Civil Rights division attempted to withdraw funding from the Bossier Sheriff's Young Marines program because it included a voluntary mention of God. Vitter along with Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) called on DOJ to end its religious censorship.
Abegbile's nomination is opposed by the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the National FOP, Major County Sheriffs' Association, National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Sheriffs' Association.