Washington, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) released the following statement on President-Elect Joe Biden nominating Judge Merrick Garland for Attorney General; Lisa Monaco for Deputy Attorney General; Vanita Gupta for Associate Attorney General; and Kristen Clarke for Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division:

“I want to congratulate the slate of nominees announced by President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). Judge Merrick Garland, Lisa Monaco, Vanita Gupta, and Kristen Clarke are immensely qualified public servants, and each maintains both the judgement and the character that is necessary to restore the public’s trust in the rule of law.

“The Department of Justice is meant to represent the interests of the American people -- not serve as the president’s personal law firm. I am fully confident in the ability of each of the nominees to restore independence to the Department, and to serve the American people with integrity.

“The treatment of domestic terrorists who stormed the Capitol yesterday compared to that of many peaceful protestors of police brutality in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, brings to bear the ongoing inequity and injustice faced by people of color that has permeated throughout our society for far too long. I am certain that these DOJ nominees – who have throughout their careers sought to protect civil rights - will join us in the fight to address these issues.

“I look forward to working with this new leadership to restore the Department of Justice and to build a more fair and equitable justice system.”