94% of Americans (93% of gun owners) want background checks on every gun sale. Retweet if you do too.
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Senator Dick Durbin
@SenatorDurbin
Serving the people of Illinois. Majority Whip and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee .
durbin.senate.govJoined February 2011
Senator Dick Durbin’s Tweets
I'm gravely concerned that the 14 criminal referrals from Special Counsel Mueller related to the investigation are under the supervision & control of AG Barr. He's virtually disqualified himself to be the kind of person we can expect to stand back & make sure justice is served.
BREAKING: Senate Democrats just tried to get Senate Republicans to adjourn for a few days and take the time to actually read their tax bill.
RT if you agree that reading bills before they’re voted on is the least we can do.
We continue to find more evidence that Judge Kavanaugh misled me and the Judiciary Committee under oath. I’m posting important documents that Senate Republicans didn’t want the American people to see. We deserve transparency about this nominee.
No, Mr. President, not "many sides." There is one side with nazi flags and nazi salutes. America is not on that side.
Proud to announce that I will be taking over as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 117th Congress.
This moment in history demands much of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I’m honored to lead my colleagues as we face these challenges.
The President denies calling fallen American military heroes “losers.” He also denied saying “s...hole countries” in a White House meeting. I was there. He said it.
From unanswered questions about 9/11 & the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, to conspiring w/ Putin to punish the US w/ higher oil prices, the royal Saudi family has never been a trustworthy ally of our nation. It’s time for our foreign policy to imagine a world without their alliance.
Shameless. Secretary Nielsen should resign, now.
What kind of a U.S. President praises Russia and bashes Chicago?
Pres. Trump displayed a stunning dearth of dignity in Chicago today. Rather than focusing on positive solutions, he chose to insult a great American city.
I am calling on Senate Republicans to delay next week’s Judiciary Committee vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Senate Republicans just voted to confirm a circuit court nominee, Jonathan Kobes, who was rated “not qualified” to serve in this position by the non-partisan American Bar Association. Why are Republicans pushing unqualified judges?
Attorney General Barr is intimately involved in President Trump’s & Rudy Giuliani’s dealings with Ukraine. He must recuse himself from any investigation related to these matters.
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Attorney General Barr’s name was mentioned several times in @realDonaldTrump’s infamous telephone call with the Ukrainian President. Since he’s been acting as the President’s lawyer, not the people’s lawyer, Bill Barr must recuse himself from anything regarding Ukraine.
I cannot believe that in the history of the White House, in that Oval Office, any president has ever spoken the words that I personally heard our president speak yesterday. President Trump said things that were hate-filled, vile, and racist. He used those words repeatedly.
In the name of the 711 lost children, the families that have been "deleted" by her agency, and common decency, I'm calling on Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the architect of this humanitarian disaster, to step down.
To my Republican colleagues: Be unafraid of what Breitbart will say tomorrow. Be unafraid what right-wingers’ are going to do to you in the next primary. If you truly believe family separation is reprehensible and shameful, have the courage to stand up to this President.
I questioned Judge Kavanaugh, repeatedly, on whether he would ask for an impartial FBI investigation into the allegations against him. He declined.
Repeatedly.
White supremacists were responsible for every incident of race-based domestic terrorism in the U.S. in 2018. Every single one.
But for some reason, the DOJ decided not to share this information with Congress despite my repeated requests.
Why? There’s no good explanation.
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Here’s the data on white supremacist terrorism the Trump administration has been ‘unable or unwilling’ to give to Congress yhoo.it/2GVDcxK
Why won’t Sen. McConnell allow a vote on election security legislation? Ever since 2016, when our top intelligence chiefs urged him to speak up and he refused, he has consistently failed to stand up to Russia’s election interference. Inaction is putting our democracy at risk.
Due to Minority Leader McConnell’s obstruction, Senate Republicans still control the Judiciary Committee and are blocking Merrick Garland’s AG confirmation hearing. They must let Garland get to work on preventing future domestic terror attacks like the January 6 attack.
Let me be clear: Dems support strong, effective border security. The type of border security that Dems have long-supported, including increased funds for tech, is what experts have said is needed & actually works. What doesn’t work is an ineffective, expensive & medieval wall.
Dr. Anthony Fauci gave a lifetime of service to the cause of saving and improving lives. His retirement from NIH marks the departure of a caring public servant and a friend. America owes Dr. Fauci thanks for his amazing legacy.
Today, Republicans held a vote to defund Planned Parenthood on the Senate floor, and it failed. I voted no on behalf of the millions of women who use it for their health care needs.
Hats off to Adam Kinzinger of Illinois for putting country before party.
Jobs processing meat and poultry are hot, dirty, monotonous, and dangerous. Across America immigrants have always taken these jobs. ICE raids should focus on those who are a threat to our safety, not those who work hard every day to put food on our tables.
Troubled by the ongoing violence in Hong Kong. The overwhelming majority of HK citizens aspire for greater political freedom—it’s time for Leader McConnell to allow a vote on the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019.
When I met with Judge Kavanaugh, he acknowledged he worked on same-sex marriage, abortion, executive power, torture, Supreme Court nominations, warrantless wiretapping, and more as Staff Secretary. Why are Republicans hiding his records from this time period? #WhatAreTheyHiding
President Trump finds $3.6 billion in loose change in our Defense budget to divert to his almighty wall. A question: shouldn’t our military come first before a promise at a campaign rally?
Most people wouldn’t buy a used car without checking the full vehicle history report. Yet Republicans are pressuring us to accept Brett Kavanaugh as a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy without letting us check his full record. America could get taken for a ride.
HAPPENING NOW: Instead of voting on a bill to reopen the government and pay our federal employees, Senator McConnell is making the Senate vote on an anti-choice bill that would restrict women’s rights. I will vote no.
My message to Senator McConnell: reopen the government while we continue to negotiate border security. You do not need a permission slip from President Trump to do your job. It’s time for the Senate to act.
Leader McConnell just blocked a resolution that called for the release of the full Mueller report. It passed the House 420-0. The American people deserve to see Special Counsel Mueller’s findings in his own words. Republicans must not hide this report.
Just went through TSA at STL Lambert. These professionals continue to do their job, without pay, in good spirits with many passengers thanking them. How can anyone be “proud” of a shutdown that hurts so many innocent people?
The House passed the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Right and Democracy Act last month and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the bipartisan Senate version two months ago. Why won't Senator McConnell act to demonstrate U.S. values and help Hong Kong stand up to China?
My daughter just told me that our 1st grade grandkids told her you should stay away from windows and drop to the floor when a shooter comes to your school.
Is there any sane person who believes this is acceptable in America?
Enough. The deaths of eight-year-old Felipe and seven-year-old Jackelin a few weeks apart are evidence that Trump’s “get tough” border policies are dangerous, especially to small children. In the name of our caring nation, Secretary Nielsen must go.
The White House and Senate Republicans rigged the investigation of sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh so the FBI couldn’t follow the facts where they led. This does a disservice to Dr. Ford, Deborah Ramirez, all sexual assault survivors, and the American people.
Today I asked Judge Kavanaugh whether he would ask Republicans to stop the concealment and make his full record public for the American people. He refused. #WhatAreTheyHiding
Just got done with my trip to the southern border in McAllen, TX. Our immigration system is broken. You can’t walk into these facilities, see these children, and believe that this situation is acceptable. America is better than this.
I’m deeply troubled by reports of Saudi Arabia torturing an American citizen. He and other political prisoners must be released. This is despicable in aftermath of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
This tweet is not accurate. Committee Republicans must correct it. See our letter here: durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
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Replying to @SenJudiciaryGOP
Nowhere in any of these six FBI reports, which the committee has reviewed on a bipartisan basis, was there ever a whiff of ANY issue – at all – related in any way to inappropriate sexual behavior or alcohol abuse. 2/2
Trying to review the #GOPTaxScam but they are making hand-written changes to brand new text as we speak – can anyone else read this?
Remember Brian Benczkowski? He represented Russia’s Alfa Bank and was a top staffer to then-Senator Sessions. Senate Republicans plan to vote next week to confirm him to head the DOJ Criminal Division.
For Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, Republicans have decided to use a GOP lawyer & Kavanaugh’s former deputy, Bill Burck, to lead the document production process. Historically, this is done by the National Archives. Why is Kavanaugh getting special treatment? #WhatAreTheyHiding
Pleased to announce a bipartisan agreement to expedite Merrick Garland’s confirmation as the next Attorney General. After unprecedented Republican obstruction, Judge Garland will finally get the hearing & vote he deserves.
Hearing to occur 2/22 & 2/23. Vote in Committee on 3/1.
For the third time this week, Leader McConnell denied the Senate a chance to pass a resolution to release the full Mueller report. The same resolution has unanimously passed the House. If there’s nothing to hide, Leader McConnell should allow this resolution to pass immediately.
Give me a break. You killed DACA and have now rejected six bipartisan deals to protect Dreamers. I’ve been fighting for Dreamers for 17 years and will never abandon them. We could pass the Dream Act today if you simply called on the Republicans who control Congress to support it.
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Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats...totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard.
Today, I am calling for the initiation of a formal impeachment inquiry by the House of Representatives of President Donald Trump.
I want to state this unequivocally: abortion is a constitutionally protected right, and the Court should uphold this constitutionally protected right. RT if you agree.
I just tried to enter this page into the record so the American people know the kind of stunts is pulling to pass their tax scam. But they wouldn’t take it. Why? Because NOBODY can read it. #Page257
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Trying to review the #GOPTaxScam but they are making hand-written changes to brand new text as we speak – can anyone else read this?
Democrats sent President Trump six bipartisan DACA deals – we even offered to fund his wasteful border wall. He made the choice to say no to each one. The President’s real goal is using DACA to advance his anti-immigrant agenda rather than fixing the crisis he started.
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Total inaction on DACA by Dems. Where are you? A deal can be made!
Not a single Republican senator voted for an amendment to the health bill that would have protected people with disabilities. Shameful.
I’m calling on Delta to end its relationship with Belarussian state owned airline Belavia after that nation’s dictator brazenly forced down a civilian airliner this weekend to arrest a Belarussian passenger opposed to his autocratic rule.
Yes, Mr. President, our immigration system is broken but your shutdown has broken our government and the lives of 800,000 federal employees and thousands of contractors including 250,000 veterans. Fix the shutdown then let's work together to fix immigration.
Good call.
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The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. #Scalia facebook.com/mitchmcconnell
I can’t think of a better time for the House to pass the Senate’s Russia Sanctions bill. Retweet if you think so too.
I intend to seek the top Democratic position on the Judiciary Committee in the 117th Congress. We have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on undoing the damage of the last four years and protecting fundamental civil and human rights.
Republicans and Democrats negotiated in good faith to reach a deal that gives you what you asked for in front of the country on Tuesday. It’s time to lead and support the bipartisan deal.
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DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military.
An insurrection without consequences or examination is a dress rehearsal for the next one. We must establish a bipartisan commission on January 6 and the events leading up to it. Anything less is unacceptable.
The only person on Earth outside of the Saudi kingdom who appears to accept the Saudi ‘investigation’ is President Trump. We should expel the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. until there is a completion of a third party investigation into the kidnap and murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
I am honored that the Senate Democratic Caucus has again supported me to serve as Whip. Our party is more diverse than ever, our Congress is divided, and the challenges we face are great. But we can, and must, come together to meet those challenges.
It’s a shame that Republicans blocked the Equal Rights Amendment from becoming law today.
They can twist it however they wish, but it’s fact: Republicans voted against explicitly including women’s equality in our Constitution.
It has been one week since President Trump decided to shut down the government over his demand for a $5 billion border wall. Federal employees continue to go without pay because of the President’s temper tantrum over a wasteful and ineffective wall.
Calling on all sides to deescalate violence and for Senator McConnell to have an immediate vote on the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.
One of the results of this embarrassing, destructive, and unnecessary government shutdown should be a new bipartisan rule which guarantees we will never face this again.
"My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."
- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I’m with RBG. RT if you are too.
As Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus, another migrant child was dying on DHS Secretary Nielsen’s watch. She should resign immediately.
If Leader McConnell is going to stand back and wait for a permission slip from President Trump to do his job and fund the government as the Republican Leader in the Senate, then we clearly are at an impasse.
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Did @SebGorka fail to disclose ties to neo-nazi group on his U.S. naturalization application? We again asked @TheJusticeDept and @DHSgov.
Watch this vote next week. Republicans will try to confirm Benczkowski while attention is focused on SCOTUS. This could be a pivotal moment in the Russia investigation.
Been trying to think of a legitimate reason why a Trump official would want a secret line to Putin that FBI/NSA couldn't monitor. I can't.
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Russian ambassador told Moscow that Kushner wanted secret communications channel with Kremlin wapo.st/2r5vgki
What my office found in our investigation is a five alarm fire for democracy, underscoring the depths of the White House’s efforts to influence the electoral vote certification. I will demand all evidence of Trump’s efforts to weaponize DOJ in his election subversion scheme.
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BREAKING NEWS: Documents uncovered by the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair @SenatorDurbin reveal that Mark Meadows pressured DOJ to investigate unfounded conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election in an attempt to nullify the results.
nytimes.com/2021/06/05/us/
I’ve never been part of a Supreme Court nomination hearing like this past week’s. With so much concealment and so many questions about Judge Kavanaugh’s record, this nomination has a cloud over it.
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"You say words matter. You claim to be a textualist when you interpret other people’s words, but you don’t want to be held accountable for the plain meaning of your own words.” nyti.ms/2wSqLwW
Unless we pass the #DreamAct, I won’t support another short-term funding bill. Our Dreamers have waited far too long for a chance to be a part of this country’s future.
Republicans voted against my Kavanaugh subpoena request today. What is the purpose of administering the oath before the Committee if we are not holding witnesses to telling the truth, and when they fail to tell the truth, holding them accountable?
The Republican party needs to wake up when it comes to this President and his pro-Russia posturing. We took an oath to defend the United States from enemies foreign and domestic, and it’s time for Congress to start acting.
In 2007 I sent Brett Kavanaugh this letter asking to explain his inaccurate and misleading testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I’m still waiting for an answer.
To Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, I'll never forget your brave testimony last week. You gave new meaning to the term "civic duty." You spoke not just for yourself, but for the millions of sexual violence survivors. I’m sorry for the pain you and your family have endured.
Republicans cannot simply dismiss Dr. Ford’s allegations with a conference call. These are serious and credible allegations. Thursday’s vote must be delayed.
Republicans just advanced the judicial nomination of 36 year-old Allison Jones Rushing for the 4th Circuit (NC). She has practiced law for just 9 years, only tried 4 cases to verdict or judgment in her career (none as lead counsel), and isn’t even a member of the NC bar.
Enough. After almost 100 days of the MLB lockout, it’s time to reconsider MLB’s special antitrust exemption, which allows them to act as a lawful monopoly. Fans across America deserve better.
Message to the owners: unlock the lockout and play ball.
Heartbreaking. President Trump clearly doesn’t hear this little girl’s cries. What will it take for Republicans who control Congress to step up and hold him accountable for the immigration crisis his policies have created?
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The youngest child to come before the bench in federal immigration courtroom No. 14 was so small she had to be lifted into the chair. She was 2. nyti.ms/2CyqV1K
Take note: Unless it was produced by the National Archives, every document you see from Judge Kavanaugh’s White House tenure was selectively chosen for release by his former deputy, Bill Burck. This is not an objective process.
President Trump says we have to shut down our government if he doesn’t get $5 billion for a wasteful and ineffective wall. We need modern technology to stop the drug cartels from importing the poison killing our kids, not a medieval solution like a wall from sea to shining sea.
The biggest black hole in Judge Kavanaugh's record is his 35-month tenure as White House Staff Secretary from July 2003 to May 2006. Republicans are not disclosing any documents from this 35-month time period. #WhatAreTheyHiding
Tomorrow is another day. We are blessed to live in a democracy that gives our citizens the last word at the polling place. Today, I voted against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
It was an honor to present Walter Shaub with the Senator Paul Douglas Ethics in Government Award. Sen. Douglas, my old boss, wrote the book on ethics in gov’t—literally—and Mr. Shaub more than lived up to that legacy in his role as the Director of the Office of Government Ethics.
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"Standards of conduct and ethics rules can be complex—because governing is complex—but they advance the straightforward idea that public servants should serve the public." - @waltshaub Congrats on receiving the 2019 Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government.
I’m supporting bipartisan resolution that halts U.S. support for Saudia Arabia’s brutal war in Yemen unless there is Congressional approval. This is about following our Constitutional responsibilities in matters of war.
Leader McConnell has made clear he and Senate Republicans want the Mueller Report to disappear. With so many troubling questions unanswered, Senate Rs and AG Barr must not be allowed to sweep this under the rug. We must hear testimony from Robert Mueller and Don McGahn.
There is no excuse for Senate Judiciary Republicans to delay Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination to be the next Attorney General.
I’m calling on Sen. Graham—who is still Chair of the Committee even though his party is in the minority—to end this delay & schedule this hearing now.
No end in sight to the President’s government shutdown. He’s taken our government hostage over his outrageous demand for a $5 billion border wall that would be both wasteful and ineffective.
Leader McConnell must step up & put the House-passed government funding bills on the Senate floor for a vote – bills which were passed by the Republican-led Senate Appropriations Committee last year. President Trump’s reckless shutdown has gone on long enough.
America owes Defense Secretary Jim Mattis a thank you for a lifetime of service. The President’s decision to oust him January 1 only serves to remind us that Mattis-brand of integrity is not welcome in this Administration.
One year ago today, Steve Bannon—Trump’s once-discarded chief strategist, now back in the Trump fold—told his podcast listeners "we’re on the point of attack tomorrow."
In May I joined my Senate Judiciary Democratic colleagues in calling for Benczkowski’s nomination to be withdrawn. See our letter here:
History will judge where America’s leaders stand on the #MuslimBan. US cannot turn its back on children fleeing persecution, genocide&terror
It’s time for Sen. McConnell to put the country over his fear of the President’s tweets and take up legislation in the Senate to secure our elections.
I am deeply disappointed in the Parliamentarian’s decision tonight, but the fight for immigration reform will continue. Senate Democrats have prepared an alternative proposal for the Parliamentarian’s consideration in the coming days.
The American Bar Association does not make decisions like this lightly. A neutral, professional FBI investigation is our best path forward on the Kavanaugh nomination.
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The American Bar Association calls on the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay the consideration of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court until the FBI investigates the assault allegations cnn.it/2Oi3G1q
The Judiciary Committee is considering a nominee to serve a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the land. Not releasing or reviewing his full record would be a disservice to the American people. I agree with . #WhatAreTheyHiding
