WASHINGTON (AP) — A candidate who could become the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appeals court judge is fighting back against characterizations of his job by law enforcement that jeopardize his nomination. . The White House and Senate are redoubling their efforts to win support from opposing lawmakers, but it may be too late.
Adeel Mangi received law degrees from Oxford and Harvard Universities. He works for a prestigious law firm and has achieved significant legal victories. However, his nomination is in jeopardy due to limited volunteer work with two outside organizations.
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Some law enforcement groups told lawmakers that Mangi’s work as an advisory board member for the Families Alliance for Justice disqualified him. This has eroded support from key Democrats as well as some Republicans who have actively supported President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees.
The gavel and law books are presented on July 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Adeel Mangi, who could become the first Muslim-American federal appeals court judge, is fighting back against the characterization of his job by law enforcement. the group that jeopardized his nomination. The White House and Senate are redoubling their efforts to win support from opposing lawmakers, but it may be too late. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Mangi took the unusual step of writing a letter to his local state senator explaining his work with the alliance. He and the White House have emphasized that other law enforcement agencies will support him in countering opposing police groups. The intensity of the battle underscores the high stakes as Biden and Democrats seek to shape the makeup of the federal judiciary while controlling the White House and the Senate.
The Alliance of Families for Justice provides legal assistance to people in prison and provides counseling and other resources to their families. Law enforcement emphasized that after Kathy Boudin served more than 20 years in prison for a fatal 1981 robbery of an armored truck, she served on the organization’s board.
One security guard and two police officers were killed in the robbery. During his time in prison, Mr. Boudin expressed his remorse and worked to help inmates with AIDS. She also developed a program on parenting in prisons. She continued her efforts to help incarcerated people and their families after her parole. New York law enforcement was outraged by her release, and the state’s governor at the time also voiced her opposition.
The National Association of Police Organizations said Mangi’s work with the group “demonstrates anti-victim and anti-police bias and will certainly cloud his decision-making as a judge.” The National Sheriff’s Association also expressed “unanimous opposition” to his nomination.
Three Democrats are opposed to Mangi’s confirmation: Joe Manchin (West Virginia), Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada). . Nevada senators specifically cited law enforcement opposition in their argument. Their position means Mangi will almost certainly need the support of some Republicans to be confirmed, but there is little sign of such support.
The Democratic Party has not given up. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said “there are discussions on both sides of the aisle” about the nomination.
In a letter to Booker, Mangi strongly denied that he had any anti-police bias, saying, “Any suggestion that I sympathize with attacks on law enforcement is shocking.” Yes, and it is wrong.” He said the advisory committee he was invited to serve on at Families Alliance for Justice has never met.
He was invited to serve on the board for leading pro bono litigation related to the death of a mentally ill black inmate at New York’s Sullivan Correctional Facility. The lawsuit led to a historic settlement that included a mandate to install cameras and microphones throughout the prison, which he said improved safety for correctional officers. He said he would not pursue further lawsuits based on referrals from the group.
He also revealed that the advocacy group has a separate board of directors responsible for oversight and governance. He held no role on the board. As for Boudin, he doesn’t remember ever meeting her, and as long as there was a friendship in her name, he had no involvement with her.
Mangi noted that some law enforcement groups are supporting him, including the Hispanic American Law Enforcement Association and the Muslim American Law Enforcement Association. The International Association of Law Enforcement Officers urged the Senate to swiftly confirm Mangi, saying, “Mangi’s record makes clear that he respects the important role of law enforcement in promoting the rule of law and public safety.” “It is shown in the table below.”
White House officials, including Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, have been trying to salvage Mangi’s nomination in recent days. They called on senators to emphasize his legal credentials and denounce what the administration labeled as defamatory.
“Some Senate Republicans and their extreme allies have persistently smeared Adeel Mangi with baseless accusations that he is anti-police,” Zients said. “This is far from the truth, and more than a dozen law enforcement agencies supporting Mr. Mangi agree. The Senate must confirm Mr. Mangi without delay.”
Mangi’s nomination has also drawn criticism from some Jewish groups, which have highlighted his past affiliation with Rutgers University’s Center on Safety, Race and Rights. The center is dedicated to research and education on policies that negatively impact American Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities.
Mr. Mangi served on the advisory committee for approximately four years until mid-2023. He said his own work was limited to attending four conferences in four years focused on academic research.
Republicans are trying to link him to other statements by moderate members that they consider anti-Semitic. They were asked about the many speakers the center has hosted and whether they agreed with their statements.
Mangi said he shouldn’t be held responsible for what others said at the event, which he didn’t know about until senators brought it up during his confirmation hearing.
The Anti-Defamation League defended Mangi, saying he was subjected to aggressive questioning that had nothing to do with his expertise. ADL is considered a leader in efforts to combat anti-Semitism.
“Just as it is considered anti-Semitic to associate Jewish Americans with particular views or beliefs about the actions of the Israeli government, the first American Muslim nominee for a federal appellate court judge “It is extremely wrong to attack a person with endless questions that appear to be motivated by prejudice against his religion,” the ADL said. said in a statement.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Mangi’s nomination in January on an 11-10 party-line vote. But since then, he has clearly lost ground. His supporters claim he has been treated unfairly because of his faith.
“Based on his record, you would think Mr. Mangi would be confirmed quickly, but I would leave one fact on his resume,” Sen. Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday. He is a Muslim American.” “The treatment of this nominee on the Senate Judiciary Committee has reached an all-time low in many respects.”
Republican leader Mitch McConnell has remained steadfast in his opposition to Mangi, repeatedly speaking out against him on the Senate floor. He noted that on Tuesday, Mangi took the “nearly unprecedented action” of writing to Booker asking him to “deny any real knowledge of the organization on which he serves on its advisory board.”
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“There are only two explanations: either Mr. Mangi was extremely careless and repeatedly failed to carry out the simplest due diligence before joining the advisory boards of extremist groups, or he intentionally joined these groups. Either you did.
“In both cases he is not suitable for a lifetime appointment,” McConnell said.
