April 28, 2021

Duckworth Meets With DOJ Civil Rights Nominee Kristen Clarke

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met virtually with Kristen Clarke, nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Duckworth and Clarke discussed the Senator’s priorities including the importance of hiring a Deputy Assistant Attorney General focused on protecting disability rights, continuing to develop initiatives to stop hate crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander community and improving DOJ web accessibility. Duckworth also discussed the need for DOJ to investigate law enforcement misconduct against Lieutenant Caron Nazario. Duckworth recently spoke in support of Clarke’s nomination on the Senate Floor.

“After the Trump Administration’s political appointees undermined the Department of Justice’s mission through years of gross mismanagement and improper politicization, we desperately need leaders with integrity, honor and basic competence to restore morale and empower the agency to meet the moment,” Duckworth said. “Kristen Clarke is widely respected and admired as one of our country’s leading legal experts on civil rights, and she has proven her effectiveness in defending the civil rights of all Americans. I look forward to working with Ms. Clarke to advance equal justice for all.”

Earlier this month, Duckworth requested that the DOJ Civil Rights Division investigate the December 5, 2020, incident of national interest that appeared to involve Windsor Police Department officers engaging in law enforcement misconduct, including excessive use of force, against Lieutenant Nazario, an active duty United States Army Officer serving with the U.S. Medical Corps. Duckworth also requested that the DOJ Civil Rights Division examine whether this incident requires a full “pattern-or-practice” investigation to determine whether the actions of the two officers on the night reflect a broader pattern or practice of members of the Windsor Police Department engaging in stops, searches or arrests that violate the Fourth Amendment; using excessive force; violating the constitutional rights of criminal suspects and conducting discriminatory policing.

-30-