Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), issued the following statement in response to reports that President Trump plans to nominate William P. Barr to serve as attorney general:
“At this critical moment in our history, it is essential that the Justice Department is led by someone who will respect the independence of the special counsel, uphold the rule of law, protect the right to vote, and enforce our nation’s civil rights statutes. Having previously served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, William Barr has an extensive record that already raises concerns about his commitment to ensuring racial equity in the criminal justice system and his sweeping views of executive power. It is the Senate’s constitutional duty to review that record thoroughly and impartially, and to consider whether he will defend the rights and liberties of all Americans, especially the most vulnerable among us.”
