[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 201 (Tuesday, December 2, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of David A. Bragdon

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
David Alan Bragdon to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District 
of North Carolina.
  I will vote in opposition to Mr. Bragdon's confirmation to a lifetime 
appointment on the Federal bench.
  While in college, Mr. Bragdon ran a personal website, whose homepage 
was titled, ``DAVID BRAGDON'S RADICAL Conservative, Republican, 
Libertarian Home page.'' He took it upon himself to share his views on 
a host of issues, and these views gravely concern me. Mr. Bragdon wrote 
that seeking an abortion is the ``wrong decision'' and it is due to 
``the woman's poor judgment.'' Even more disturbing, he said that a 
woman ``must face the consequenses [sic]'' if she does not use birth 
control. Mr. Bragdon also argued that welfare caused immorality and 
encouraged drugs and crime. He also contended that children of welfare 
recipients are more likely to drop out of school, end up in prison, and 
have children out of wedlock.
  I recognize that nominees often write things in college that no 
longer reflect their views today. But when I asked Mr. Bragdon about 
the views he expressed on his website, he refused to disavow his prior 
writings.
  For these reasons, I will oppose Mr. Bragdon's nomination, and I urge 
my colleagues to join me.