Toomey Statement on Loretta Lynch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2015

Contact: E.R. Anderson (202) 224-8609

Toomey Statement on Loretta Lynch

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the follow statement today after the vote to confirm Loretta Lynch as the Attorney General of the United States.

"Given Ms. Lynch’s experience and commitment to public service, I wish that I could support her nomination. However, as I announced publicly after meeting with her in late February, I cannot support her and I did not vote for her confirmation today.
"During our meeting, Ms. Lynch refused to answer fundamental questions about the U.S. Constitution and how it limits the President’s authority.
"Chairman Grassley asked Ms. Lynch to review the Administration’s November 2014 order unilaterally granting legal status and work permits to more than four million illegal immigrants. Ms. Lynch told me she had not conducted an independent legal analysis of her own. Instead, Ms. Lynch relied on the opinions of Administration lawyers to conclude the President has the legal and Constitutional authority to rewrite immigration law.
"This President has repeatedly exceeded his legal authority. He has unilaterally rewritten Obamacare, made executive appointments the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional, and rewritten immigration law despite having said 22 times that he lacked the authority to do so.
"The Attorney General does not represent the President; she represents the American people. The Attorney General has the duty to act as an independent legal check on executive overreach.
"It is clear to me that Ms. Lynch is unwilling to play that role.
"I do not believe Ms. Lynch can carry out the duty of Attorney General to uphold the Constitution, and thus I did not vote for her confirmation today."

Elizabeth "E.R." Anderson
Communications Director
U.S Senator Pat Toomey
248 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
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