Ogden Confirmed as Deputy A.G. Despite Republican Objections
As expected, the U.S. Senate today confirmed David Ogden to be the deputy attorney general of the United States, the second highest-ranking position in the
Jul 31, 2020194.2K Shares2.7M Views
As expected, the U.S. Senate today confirmed David Ogden to be the deputy attorney general of the United States, the second highest-ranking position in the Department of Justice. After two days of debate that included serious objections by some Republicans, the Senate voted 65-28 to confirm Ogden.
As I noted earlier today, Ogden’s confirmation had been held up by some Senate Republicans, who threatened a filibuster, largely on concerns that as an attorney in private practice he had represented Playboy Enterprises, among others, in First Amendment cases that led critics to claim he protected pornographers at the expense of children. They also objected that, because he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Blackmun, the author of Roe v. Wade and signed onto amicus briefs that sought to protect the right to an abortion, that he favored abortion over, well, children.
Update: Here’s what People For the American Way president Kathryn Kolbert had to say about the confirmation, from a statement released this afternoon:
“„“It’s incredible to think that Senate Republicans considered filibustering David Ogden’s nomination even for a second. Ogden is a widely respected attorney with previous Justice Department experience and bipartisan support. But to listen to some Republicansand Religious Rightleaderstalk about him, you could be excused for thinking that President Obama had actually nominated Larry Flynt.”
“„“In reality, Ogden is a seasoned lawyer and public servant whose hard work has earned him the supportof the National District Attorneys Association, Fraternal Order of Police, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and many others. He is precisely the type of person we need at the helm of the Justice Department as it tackles the many challenges facing our nation. Fortunately a bipartisan majority of Senators saw past the smears directed at Ogden, but the obstructionist threats and extreme rhetoric from the most conservative Senators set a bad precedent for future nominations.”
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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