Several Republican senators have raised concerns about the American Bar Association (ABA) and are urging President Donald Trump to take significant measures against the organization. In a formal letter addressed to ABA President William Bay, these lawmakers expressed that the ABA, which plays a critical role in judicial nominations, has become “biased and ideologically captured.” They are advocating for President Trump to completely remove the ABA from the judicial nomination process.
Senators Eric Schmitt, Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn, Josh Hawley, Bernie Moreno, and Mike Lee have also encouraged their colleagues to ignore the ABA’s recommendations moving forward.
In their letter, the senators made serious allegations, claiming that the ABA has adopted political positions that are critical of the Trump administration and has remained silent about receiving funds from USAID, an agency that has been targeted by Trump’s presidency. They pointed out that while the ABA states that “Americans expect better,” Trump actually won both the electoral and popular votes, suggesting that the majority of Americans support his administration.
Senator Schmitt tweeted the letter, highlighting the ABA’s recent positions and statements. He particularly criticized comments made by the ABA on February 10 and March 3, both of which took a negative stance on the Trump administration’s actions.
The senators indicated that the ABA’s statement from February 10 suggested that the expected changes from newly elected leaders must still follow the rule of law. They took issue with the ABA’s criticism, which included claims that the “dismantling of USAID” was illegal, without providing legal justification for such statements.
Furthermore, they questioned whether the ABA truly stands for liberty or is simply focused on protecting its funding sources. They noted the ABA’s lack of statements criticizing President Biden when he defied the Supreme Court over issues like student loan forgiveness.
The lawmakers also expressed discontent with the ABA’s March 3 statement targeting efforts to “undermine the courts,” pointing out the hypocrisy since no such statements were directed at Biden’s administration. Additionally, they criticized the ABA for enforcing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which the Trump administration has sought to eliminate in government functions.
