During A Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing, Durbin Denounces The MAGA Nominee Considered Today To A Lifetime Appointment On The Court Of International Trade

During A Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing, Durbin Denounces The MAGA Nominee Considered Today To A Lifetime Appointment On The Court Of International Trade

Durbin: "After losing before the Supreme Court, he [Trump] wants to stack the courts, including the CIT, with MAGA loyalists who will rule in his favor."

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing regarding the President's reckless tariffs policy, disregard for the rule of law, and the Supreme Court's recent ruling against said tariffs. Durbin also spoke on the nomination of Kara Westercamp to the Court of International Trade (CIT). Ms. Westercamp's nomination to the lifetime position followed the Supreme Court's tariff ruling. During his opening, Durbin highlighted Ms. Westercamp's past comments and loyalty to the MAGA base.

The Committee also considered the nominations of Sheria Clarke, to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina; Kathleen Lane, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana; and Evan Rikhye, to the U.S. District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands.

Key Quotes:

"In his second term, President Trump has accelerated a pattern from his first term: put in place a patently illegal policy; dare the courts to strike it down; and when courts uphold the rule of law, respond by personally attacking the judges. President Trump's tariff policy is a perfect illustration of this."

"Just two weeks after he returned to office last year, he invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, also known as IEEPA, to impose tariffs. This law gives the President authority to impose sanctions or freeze assets in response to certain emergencies… Immediately, American small businesses challenged these tariffs taxes as exceeding the scope of the President's legal powers. Lower courts disagreed with the President and agreed with the plaintiffs, finding that only Congress has the power to impose tariffs."

"Just a few weeks ago, [in] a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's position and held that IEEPA does not authorize President Trump to impose these illegal and costly tariffs. Right on cue, President Trump went on the attack, ranting on social media that the Supreme Court 'unnecessarily RANSACKED' the United States by ruling against him."

"While the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, major questions remain with respect to how American businesses will receive refunds for [the] tens of billions of dollars they lost due to President Trump's illegal tariff taxes. The Court of International Trade, or the CIT, a specialized court that hears international trade cases, will hear many of the suits filed by plaintiffs seeking to recoup their losses."

"So, President Trump is resorting to his typical, usual, normal practice for him. After losing before the Supreme Court, he wants to stack the courts, including the CIT, with MAGA loyalists who will rule in his favor. Today the Committee will consider the nomination of Kara Westercamp for a lifetime appointment to the [CIT]. Based on her record, it appears she will be faithful to the President. How about to the rule of law?"

"Ms. Westercamp's social media account reads like Trump fan fiction: questioning the outcome of the 2020 election; whitewashing the January 6 attack on the Capitol; and attacking Chief Justice Roberts for not being sufficiently conservative… This shameless display of extreme rhetoric does not reflect the independence or the judicial temperament required for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench."

Video of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin's opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

-30-