Loretta Lynch, Leader on Fighting Human Trafficking, Should Be Confirmed

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Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The Senate’s failure to confirm Loretta Lynch as US Attorney General because of partisan disagreement over an important bill on human trafficking is a sad irony. Lynch has been a top leader in the fight against human trafficking during her tenure as US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. As Legal Momentum President & CEO Carol Robles-Roman told The Guardian, “Her office, the eastern district, has really distinguished itself in the cases that they have brought, and the fearlessness that they have shown in prosecuting these cases. It is a fearlessness that we need in our attorney general.” In fact, her office has the most active anti-trafficking record in the country. According to The Guardian, the eastern district of New York has delivered more than 55 indictments in human trafficking cases and rescued more than 110 victims, including at least 20 minors, in the past 10 years.

After a long impasse, the Senate has finally reached a deal today on the disputed language in the anti-trafficking bill. The Senate’s delay in confirming Lynch is the longest since the 1980s. As Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid aptly said, “Let’s get Loretta Lynch confirmed quickly and move on.” A confirmation vote could take place this week.  

Legal Momentum has been actively urging the Senate to confirm Lynch. Legal Momentum delivered a letter to key Senators that was signed by a dozen other organizations. Legal Momentum also started a social media campaign to “#ConfirmLynch.” We once again ask our followers—and all supporters of gender equality— to contact their senators and urge them to vote to confirm Loretta Lynch.

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