Several Republican Senators are upset with the American Bar Association and want President Donald Trump to take action. The lawmakers wrote to ABA president William Bay that the organization, which has a major role in judicial nominees, was “biased” and had been ideologically captured. These lawmakers now want Trump to “remove ABA completely from the judicial nominating process.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Bernie Moreno, and Sen. Mike Lee are also calling on their fellow senators to “disregard the ABA’s recommendations.”
The explosive letter contains allegations that include that the ABA took a political stance against the Trump Administration and that it has kept quiet regarding its receipt of funds from USAID. The ABA criticizes the Trump administration for targeting the federal aid group.
The ABA says that Americans expect more. But Trump has won the popular and electoral votes. The letter states that “it seems Americans want and expect the Trump Administration.”
Schmitt sent out a letter on Twitter, along with a number of criticisms about recent ABA actions and statements. Schmitt was particularly critical of statements made by the ABA on February 10 and March 3 that were both critical of Trump’s administration.
It’s been three weeks now since Inauguration Day. The majority of Americans understand that new leaders will bring about change. It is to be expected. In its statement of February 10, the ABA stated that “most Americans expect changes to be made in compliance with the law.” The statement of February 10 also condemns “the dismantling” of USAID.
In their letter to the ABA, the senators cite this statement. They claim that “inflammatory statements” were made against Trump’s administration without “citing legal arguments for these arguments.” The ABA claims that “dismantling USAID” would be illegal. However, the senators point out that they do not provide any legal reasoning for this claim.
The senators wrote that it was “questionable” whether the ABA would defend liberty or USAID, referring specifically to its defense.
They also criticized ABA’s statement of March 3, in which it criticized purported “efforts” to undermine courts. The lawmakers noted in their letter that the association had not issued any statements about former president Joe Biden’s defiance of the Supreme Court regarding student loan forgiveness.
The senators’ letter criticizes the ABA for its implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies, policies that the Trump Administration has worked to eradicate from the government.
