Dear Senator:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I urge swift confirmation of Vanita Gupta to be the next Associate Attorney General in the Department of Justice. With deep experience in a broad range of complex civil justice, law enforcement and public safety matters, Ms. Gupta is uniquely qualified for this position. Furthermore, throughout her career she has been successful in developing collaborative professional relationships through which she has built consensus and earned the respect of a wide range of stakeholders.
Most recntly, Ms. Gupta served as the President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, our nation’s oldest, most diverse, and largest civil and human rights coalition. She previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Department of Justice. This position followed her work as an advocate for civil rights and racial justice at the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Ms. Gupta’s record leaves no doubt that she is a skilled problem-solver with the requisite background to bring a sorely needed fresh perspective to the Associate Attorney General’s oversight responsibilities. Her nomination comes at a crucial moment, as the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated our nation’s systemic economic, health, and racial divides. Known for seeking creative, practical solutions while anticipating future challenges and opportunities, Ms. Gupta is ideally suited to help Attorney General Garland combat the rise in hate crimes and violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
Vanita Gupta’s career has been devoted to advancing the rights and dignity of all Americans, and the AFL-CIO joins both the leading civil rights and law enforcement organizations in urging her confirmation.
Sincerely,
William Samuel
Director, Government Affairs