CBC Wants Harris or Booker to Take Senate Judiciary Vacancy

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) has written a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) calling for either Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) or her colleague Cory Booker (D-NJ) to fill the pending vacancy on the Senate Judiciary Committee after Senator Al Franken (D-MN) announced he would be resigning. In the letter, obtained by BuzzFeed’s Darren Sands, Richmond wrote, "In the current political and legal environment, Black America faces the greatest threats to its rights and safety since the post-Reconstruction era ... The CBC urges you and the Senate Democratic Caucus to appoint a CBC Member to join Ranking Member Feinstein and others in defense of our democracy, our values and our constitutional rights." Richmond goes on to say, "Either of these highly accomplished attorneys would be effective assets to the oversight and legislative efforts of Senate Judiciary Democrats. They would also bring personal experience to bear on the important debates taking place in the Committee that directly impact millions of African-Americans in this country." The request comes on the heels of losing John Conyers, who was the Ranking Member on the powerful House Judiciary Committee. More here.