(Washington, DC, February 14, 2019) – Today, Sharon McGowan, Legal Director and Chief Strategy Officer of Lambda Legal, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed William Barr, President Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, over the objections of civil rights leaders:

“As Attorney General, William Barr will be responsible for defending the civil rights of all people, not just the wealthy and the powerful. From his first day on the job, he must make clear that, unlike his predecessor, he will not use the Department of Justice as a weapon of discrimination and bigotry. He must bring new leadership to the Department of Justice, and get it back in the business of defending civil rights and equal justice under law for all people.”