[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Nomination of Adeel Abdullah Mangi

  Mr. President, now on another matter, when a nominee finds himself in 
trouble, it is interesting to note how people react. It has been 
particularly notable in the case of President Biden's radical pick for 
the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
  I have spoken many times about Mr. Mangi, first to lay out his highly 
troubling affiliation with a center that promoted anti-Semitism and 
Islamic terror and then to explain his equally disturbing affiliation 
with those who would enable cop killers.
  We have received letter after letter from Jewish organizations and 
police groups expressing their outrage at this nomination. The hurt 
they express is particularly palpable.
  But Democrats have gone into overdrive to keep this foundering pick. 
They have breathlessly invoked his religious identity, continuing their 
recent practice of asserting that demographics alone are a sufficient 
reason to justify life tenure on the Federal bench.
  They have shaken the bushes for new letters of support, and the 
results have been interesting, to say the least. One came from Muslims 
for Progressive Values, MPV. This came as no surprise given that Mr. 
Mangi served on their board as recently as 2020.
  Basic research into the organization makes me wonder what he ever did 
to deserve such an endorsement. For example, MPV has called on the U.N. 
to monitor domestic law enforcement tactics due to systemic racism. 
They have recommended viewing a video with an anti-racism expert who 
suggested that a notorious cop killer was an innocent ``political 
prisoner.'' MPV's social media showcases post after post describing 
Israel's response to Hamas as genocide and accusing Israel of war 
crimes. It is nothing less than sustained opposition against an 
American ally.
  Republicans presented evidence that Mr. Mangi aligns himself with 
anti-Israel radicals and supporters of cop killers. His defenders 
responded with an indignant letter from an organization of anti-Israel 
radicals who support cop killers.
  Mr. Mangi's nomination is in a quicksand of radicalism. The more the 
Biden administration tries to save it, the more radicalism pulls it 
down.
  Contrast this with Mr. Mangi's law firm. While his extremist friends 
from his radical boards are doubling down on their support, Mr. Mangi's 
elite firm seems to be saying ``not so fast, he doesn't speak for us.''
  During the Judiciary Committee investigation into this nominee, they 
found that his firm is a listed sponsor of a law fellowship at the same 
anti-Semitic center at Rutgers that Mr. Mangi advised. But now a look 
at the center's website will show that the law firm's name has been 
removed. Indeed, the firm confirmed to the Judiciary Committee that it 
asked to be removed after learning about the center's outrageous 
activities. The firm said, ``Having had the opportunity to review'' the 
center's activities, it ``will not continue to support.''
  Traditional liberals are distancing themselves from Mr. Mangi while 
radicals embrace him.
  The Senate should reject him.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Padilla). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Republican whip.