controversial Justice Department nominee is at the center of a dramatic clash on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers prepare to vote Wednesday on whether to move the nomination forward despite mounting concerns about his past work on behalf of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. Debo Adegbiles confirmation is by no means assured, despite Democrats pushing through new Senate rules that allow such nominations to advance with just 51 votes -- as opposed to the customary 60. Last week, a high-profile Democrat -- Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey -- came out against Adegbile. Several moderate Democrats facing re-election this year have not said which way they will vote. A test vote is set for shortly before noon. Republican and law enforcement groups like the Fraternal Order of Police, meanwhile, are staunchly opposed. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., questioned Tuesday whether Adegbile could be counted on to advocate for the civil rights of all Americans, if confirmed to the post of Civil Rights Division director. The president of the Fraternal Order of Police has called the nomination a thumb in the eye of our nations law enforcement officers. At issue is Adegbiles work with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on behalf of Abu-Jamal. Perhaps Americas most well-known cop killer, he was convicted for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia officer Daniel Faulkner. The case has attracted celebrity and media attention for decades, amid claims that Abu-Jamal faced racial discrimination. Abu-Jamals death sentence was eventually overturned, but his conviction stands. Along the way, Adegbile and the Legal Defense Fund got involved in the case, filing briefs and appeals on his behalf. Adegbiles involvement came after Abu-Jamals death sentence was overturned and after the Legal Defense Fund first began working with the defendant. Adegbiles defenders argue that he was obligated to work on the case since the Legal Defense Fund had already accepted him as a client. And they argue that defending unpopular clients is just part of the legal profession. But critics say Adegbile made the choice to take on the case as a political cause. Faulkners widow, Maureen Faulkner, has adamantly opposed the nomination and lobbied senators to vote no. Both of Pennsylvanias senators, Casey and Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, have announced their opposition. I respect that our system of law ensures the right of all citizens to legal representation no matter how heinous the crime, Casey said in a statement. At the same time, it is important that we ensure that Pennsylvanians and citizens across the country have full confidence in their public representatives -- both elected and appointed. The vicious murder of Officer Faulkner in the line of duty and the events that followed in the 30 years since his death have left open wounds for Maureen Faulkner and her family as well as the City of Philadelphia. After carefully considering this nomination and having met with both Mr. Adegbile as well as the Fraternal Order of Police, I will not vote to confirm the nominee. Obama nominated Adegbile to succeed Thomas Perez in the DOJ post, after Perez was confirmed for Labor secretary. Politics Videos Steve Doocy sits down with former first lady Exclusive interview with Barbara Bush Matt Sames updates his story ObamaCare stalling small business owners American Dream? Lawmaker on why Debo Adegbile is unfit to serve Sen. Toomey previews Senates vote on Justice Dept. nominee Justice Dept. nominee defended cop killer Rep. 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Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:23:50 +0000
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