President Obama has nominated attorney Debo Adegbile to head the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Adegbile has a long history of advocating for the release of unrepentant and convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Earlier this week the National Fraternal Order of Police, an organization representing 330,000 men and women in law enforcement, sent a scathing letter to President Obama strongly opposing Abegbile's nomination.
"As world of this nomination spreads through the law enforcement community, reactions range from anger to incredulity. Under this nominee's leadership, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People volunteered their services to represent Wesley Cook, better known to the world as Mumia Abu-Jamal --- our country's most notorious cop-killer. There is no disputing that Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner was murdered by this thug. His just sentence - death - was undone by your nominee and others like him who turned the justice system on its head with unfounded and unproven allegations of racism," FOP National President Chuck Canterbury wrote in the letter. "We are aware of the tried and true shield behind which activists of Adegbile's ilk are wont to hide - that everyone is entitled to a defense; but surely you would agree that a defense should not be based on falsely disparaging and savaging the good name and reputation of a lifeless police officer. Certainly any legal scholar can see the injustice and absence of ethics in this cynical race-baiting approach to our legal system."
According to Canterbury, President Obama did not seek or consultation input from the FOP or any other law enforcement agencies before nominating Adegbile for the position, breaking a promise made by Attorney General Eric Holder to be more open and transparent with men and women in harms way.
"This nomination can be interpreted in only one way; it is a thumb in the eye of our nation's law enforcement. It demonstrates a total lack of regard or empathy for those who strive to keep you and everyone else in our nation safe in your home and neighborhoods -- sometimes giving their lives in the effort," Canterbury wrote. "Standing up and fighting against racism wherever and whenever you find it is a brave and admirable endeavor; sometimes standing up against racism entails opposing and exposing cynical opportunism disguised in the name of justice. We will make every effort to point this out in our opposition to this nomination and will do everything we can to defeat it in the Senate. It is our hope, that in the future, you and your Administration will consider candidates with records of fairness and respect to all Americans when selecting nominees for leadership positions at the Justice Department or anywhere else in your administration."
Adegbile is testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.