Washington, D.C. — Today, The New York Times reported that Brett Talley, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the federal bench in Alabama, failed to disclose that his wife is a senior attorney in the White House counsel’s office. This follows a CNN report that Jeff Mateer, a nominee for a federal judgeship in Texas, failed to disclose the contents of speeches in which he referred to transgender children as proof of “Satan’s plan” and implied that same-sex marriage could lead to bestiality or polygamy. In response, Michele Jawando, vice president for Legal Progress at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Any judicial nominee who fails to disclose critical information to Senate lawmakers should immediately withdraw from consideration. Full disclosure is a hallmark of the vetting process for judges and reflects a nominee’s credibility, character, and judgment. It is hard to believe Brett Talley would make this mistake when his job at the Justice Department is to help review judicial nominations and make sure paperwork is filled out accurately.
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