Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate voted to confirm Eric Dreiband to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. In response, Winnie Stachelberg, executive vice president for External Affairs at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Choosing Eric Dreiband to head this office is one more example of the contempt the Trump administration and conservatives in the Senate have for our civil rights. This administration has refused to make enforcement of vital civil rights protections a top priority despite rampant police misconduct and evidence of possible voter suppression in Georgia and other states. Dreiband has spent the bulk of his career defending corporations accused of discrimination and does not have the requisite experience to lead the agency charged with enforcing the nation’s civil rights laws. He was a vocal critic of efforts in Congress to protect women from pay discrimination and opposed measures that would have protected older Americans from age discrimination at work. And he has no experience protecting voting rights, dealing with hate crimes, or holding police accountable for misconduct, areas critical to ensuring justice for all.
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202.478.6327.