Padilla at Garland Confirmation Hearing: "Voter Suppression is Rooted in White Supremacy"

Press Release

Today, in his first Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned Judge Merrick Garland on his nomination to be Attorney General of the United States.

Padilla, California's former Secretary of State, focused on concerns around new voter suppression laws targeting minority communities. He also asked Garland how he'll work to combat white supremacy and the rising threat of domestic terrorism following the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. In response to questions from Padilla, Judge Garland confirmed his commitment to enforcing voting rights and combatting white supremacy.

Key Highlights:

PADILLA: As the country has become more diverse, not just states like California and New York, but throughout the nation, it's no coincidence that we have seen a resurgence of white supremacy and violent extremism. And history's clear: voter suppression is rooted in white supremacy.
PADILLA: We all saw how former President Trump's years of lies about voter fraud, the "Big Lie," radicalized many of his supporters and led not just to physical threats against elections officials, elections offices, polling places and even voters, but they ultimately led to the violent insurrection here in the nation's Capitol.
PADILLA: I was struck by February 19th opinion piece in the Washington Post by Jim Sciutto about the parallels between the Capitol insurrectionists and foreign terrorist organizations, that I respectfully ask be inserted into the record, Mr. Chairman. In it, Jim Sciutto writes, and I'll quote, "Domestic radicalism has deep parallels to jihadist terrorism. Both movements are driven by alienation from the political system and a resulting breakdown in social norms. For some groups and individuals this break down leads to violence they see as justified to achieve political ends."
PADILLA: Now, as we all know, the definition of terrorism is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political ends. President Trump's political end was clear: stopping the certification of the 2020 election at the Capitol on January 6th. One could argue that right-winged groups like the proud boys and the oath keepers have acted like terrorist cells, communicating with one another, training together and preparing for the moment they are activated for their mission.

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