Justice Department Photo
A conservative group today launched a $1 million ad campaign to squelch the nomination of Vanita Gupta to the number three position of the Justice Department.
This on the same day Republican senators grilled the Indian American nominee about her position on defunding police and decriminalizing drugs, reported CNN.
Gupta is the second Asian American nominee to come under intense Republican pressure after Neera Tanden asked President Biden to withdraw her nomination as budget director just last week.
The American Kahani reports GOP senators painted Gupta as a hypocrite and left activist.
They were joined by the Judicial Crisis Network which aims to win confirmation of conservative judges. In its ad, the group accused Gupta of a “dark money assault on the Supreme Court” during her days leading the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Both Democrats and Asian American group quickly came to the defense of Gupta.
“Vanita Gupta is a trailblazer in the civil rights community and has spent decades working to advance the rights and dignity of all Americans,” Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC said in a statement sent to AsAmNews. “We have worked side-by-side with her and can attest to her commitment to the protection of civil rights, such as protecting our right to vote, fighting for everyone to be counted in the 2020 Census, and protecting affirmative action.”
If confirmed as Associate Attorney General, Gupta would become the highest ranking Asian American in the U.S. Department of Justice in its history. She would be the first Asian American and woman of color to serve as Associate Attorney General.
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) accused Republicans of “mansplaining” Gupta’s positions on race and policing.
“Ms. Gupta, you’ve been a victim of a smear campaign, a despicable and rancid campaign to discredit you,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
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