Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that although Vanita Gupta, nominated by President Biden as deputy attorney general, has done “admirable” work in the past, his previous comments about Republicans worried him whether she could fill a critical position in the Department of Justice.
Grassley raised this issue during Gupta’s confirmation hearing before the committee Tuesday morning.
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“Her Twitter feed painted Republicans with a broad brush, describing our national convention last year as three nights of ‘racism, xenophobia and outrageous lies,'” Grassley said during his opening speech. “How many of our colleagues in this room were there? Of course, Ms. Gupta did indeed launch attacks on Twitter against some of them directly. Will this type of political party defense affect your legal defense in your role in which you represent all Americans?”
Grassley continued, noting that Gupta had spoken harsh words against members of the judiciary – including Supreme Court judges Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh – who may be dealing with cases in which she could be involved.
The committee chairman, Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Later gave Gupta a chance to address Grassley’s concerns about his party positions.
“I understand why you have them. I take them seriously,” said Gupta. “I am sorry for the harsh rhetoric that I have used a few times in recent years. Perhaps, I think, the rhetoric has become quite harsh in recent years and I have been a victim of it, and I wish I could withdraw it. with you and asking you to do it is to look at my life history. “
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Gupta said that throughout her career she “sought out people who don’t always think like me” and have different points of view in order to “build a consensus to do things”. She added that while she was a “lifelong idealistic civil rights lawyer”, she is also “deeply pragmatic”, which is why she believes she has the confidence of law enforcement officials.
If confirmed, she said, “you won’t hear that kind of rhetoric from me.”
Later in the hearing, Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, alluded to Gupta’s earlier comments referring to his refusal to accept an apology from Ryan Bounds, who had been nominated for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Bounds had written statements when he was in college that he later recognized as offensive, but Gupta sent a letter opposing his choice. Bounds’ appointment was subsequently withdrawn.
Gupta had written that Bounds’ apology was for “convenience” and not “remorse”.
“My question to you,” said Lee, “is that you would keep this? Is it something that we should apply to all nominees? Is it something that we should apply to you, Merrick Garland, to all Justice Department nominees?”
Taking what Lee meant, Gupta again expressed regret for his earlier words.
“I apologize for the kind of crude language I used in the past,” said Gupta, noting that in her career she has worked with members of different parties and in the future she would work respectfully with others, despite having political differences.
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“My hope is that you will find this genuine and authentic,” she said.
Lee then said that Gupta’s response was similar to what Bounds said, but Gupta “applied very hard” a pattern to Bounds in opposing his nomination. The senator asked if the same standard should apply to her.
“I believe in the second chance and redemption, and I would ask for it today,” said Gupta.