Columbia Standard

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on the nominations of Harmeet Dhillon, Aaron Reitz, and D. John Sauer for key Justice Department positions. During his remarks, Durbin criticized President Trump for pardoning individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, highlighting subsequent crimes committed by some of those pardoned.

Durbin stated, “Those of us who were witness to the January 6 riot here in the Capitol have a [shared] experience we will never forget… As a result of that riot on January 6, five police officers died, over 140 were assaulted, [and] 1,600 people were arrested and convicted of crimes [related to] that day.”

He expressed concern over the impact of Trump's pardons: “The bottom line is they [the insurrectionists] are not stopping now [that] they have been released by President Trump’s pardons. They are not stopping in their assault on the Capitol."

Durbin also addressed changes within law enforcement agencies: “Let me also say that I’m concerned...we are seeing a transformation of law enforcement in this country that most people do not imagine…[FBI Director] Patel is proceeding with his effort to cleanse the ranks of the FBI for anyone who has shown any conduct in the past [that is] disloyal to Donald Trump."

Durbin's full statement is available via video and audio recordings.