OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

-9999

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 5, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Brian Lea to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Lea has demonstrated his clear partisanship. In his current role with the Justice Department, he has defended the Trump administration against several lawsuits challenging the administration's grant funding policies. Federal courts have repeatedly found those policies to be arbitrary and capricious.

In private practice, Mr. Lea represented the Republican National Committee and defended tobacco companies. In addition, Mr. Lea lacks legal experience in Tennessee. He was not licensed to practice in the State until shortly before his nomination, and he has never appeared in Tennessee State or Federal court.

This nominee's record reflects how the Trump administration selects nominees based on their perceived political loyalty--and how the administration expects judicial nominees to continue to support its actions if they are confirmed to the Federal bench.

I oppose Mr. Lea's nomination and ask my colleagues to join me.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward