Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement on the confirmation of Loretta Lynch to become the Eighty-Third Attorney General of the United States by a bipartisan majority in the Senate, with ten Republicans joining two Independents and forty-four Democrats in support of her confirmation.

“Yesterday, I had the utmost privilege and distinct honor of representing the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York as the votes of the United States Senate were cast confirming the Honorable Loretta Lynch as the next Attorney General of the United States. I congratulate the Honorable Loretta Lynch on her historic confirmation as United States Attorney General. A proud native of North Carolina and today a resident of Brooklyn, New York, Loretta Lynch has excelled in the profession of law, both in private practice and as a federal prosecutor renowned for her commitment to public service and her fairness in the application of the law. Educated at Harvard College, where she was a charter member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and Harvard Law School, Loretta Lynch has twice been nominated and confirmed – unanimously – as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Loretta Lynch has a distinguished career as a federal prosecutor, securing convictions of the police officers who brutally attacked Abner Louima, who was a Brooklyn resident at time of his assault as well as investigating corruption from the Town of Brookhaven to the Borough of Brooklyn. It has been a testament to her record of accomplishment and success that her nomination was supported by prominent officials from both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, as well as law professors, the community of faith, and social justice organizations. I wish Loretta Lynch and her family all the best as she becomes the leader of the Department of Justice and the highest law enforcement official of our nation.”

“I remained concerned, however, about the unwarranted and substantial delay in scheduling a vote on her nomination as Attorney General and the narrow margin of 56-43 by which she was confirmed. Both the delay in considering her nomination and the refusal of many Republicans to support such an obviously qualified nominee were unprecedented. In hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, nobody questioned her impartiality, her brilliance in law, or her talent for administration. Indeed, several Republicans described Loretta Lynch as not only qualified, but uniquely qualified to handle such issues as the threat of terrorism and corruption in government, yet nonetheless opposed her confirmation as Attorney General in a spiteful attempt to undermine President Obama. As Americans, our nation’s security, our civil rights, and our personal safety depend on the work of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice. To require Loretta Lynch to wait more than five months for a vote on her nomination was unconscionable.” 

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.