by First Liberty Institute – 3 minutes
The Biden administration put forth yet another judicial nominee with ties to a radical and anti-Semitic organization.
Karla Campbell—nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit—served on a legal advisory board at Workers’ Dignity. Don’t be fooled by the name. This is an organization that holds views far outside the mainstream, particularly on immigration, the police, public safety and labor.
The group claims “that transforming society requires working-class people of all races, ages and walks of life to build resilient and democratic organizations capable of disrupting strategic institutions and industries,” according to its website.
“Only then will we be able to seize power and shape our own conditions,” it adds.
During her confirmation hearing, Campbell faced intense question from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding her prior work for that organization.
Campbell confirmed that she advised Workers’ Dignity and said it had been more than 10 years since she’d been affiliated with them. But senators appeared skeptical of her answers, noting that her profile on attorney rating site Avvo suggests she worked for the organization from 2013 to the present.
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri pointed out that Workers’ Dignity advocated for the abolition of America’s police and the destruction of Israel. He pressed Campbell because she appeared to be lying under oath about her connection.
“Workers’ Dignity has condemned Israel’s ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestine. They have said that Israel is engaged in ethnic cleansing,” the senator said. “Do you agree with that?”
“No senator,” Campbell responded.
“How can I believe you?” Hawley said. “You just lied under oath a moment ago.”
“You’ve lied to us up and down on this committee,” he added. “This is a serious problem Ms. Campbell. I have to say, I’ve never seen a witness—never in five years in this committee—sit here and lie to us and change the story person to person.”
Sen. Hawley further signaled his opposition to Campbell’s nomination after she wouldn’t explain her previous financial support for a political candidate who claimed Republican Senators were “satanists.”
This radical Biden nominee worked for a group that wants to ABOLISH the police, abolish ICE, abolish capitalism, destroy Israel, and foment revolution. So she lied about it. Repeatedly. Today we caught her pic.twitter.com/vXRqIuzeuc
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 20, 2024
This person wants a lifetime appointment to the federal judiciary. And she’s lied under oath so many times she can’t keep track of the lies pic.twitter.com/gVCnbCcIk1
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 20, 2024
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa also noted that Workers’ Dignity previously called for the disbanding of “oppressive systems” like the police and the military.
“This is an openly Marxist organization. This is a communist organization,” said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. He, too, sounded the alarm about Campbell’s record, suggesting that she’s a “political activist.”
Campbell’s nomination is still pending with the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will soon vote on whether to advance her nomination to the floor for a confirmation vote.
Campbell, however, isn’t the first Biden nominee with ties to groups that promote anti-Semitism.
First Liberty previously warned about the nomination of Adeel Mangi for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mangi has a concerning affiliation with the Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights—a radical organization that promotes anti-Semitism and praises terrorist groups.
Mangi’s nomination has drawn considerable opposition from a broad coalition, including 21 police organizations, five Jewish groups, 10 Republican members of Congress, all Republican members of the Judiciary Committee and at least three Senate Democrats.
Mangi is waiting for a final confirmation vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. His nomination will expire at the end of the 118th Congress. Given the vast opposition, judicial experts have suggested there may not be a path forward for Mangi to be confirmed.
When a judicial nominee has affiliations to some of America’s most radical groups, it raises serious questions about whether religious groups and individuals will be treated fairly in the courtroom. All federal judges are required to uphold and apply the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and faithfully apply religious nondiscrimination laws. In addition, the Judicial Code of Ethics requires nondiscrimination on the basis of religion and impartiality.
Federal judges make critical legal decisions about religious freedom and our other constitutional rights. First Liberty continues to monitor judicial nominees and to provide the facts about the ones with a radical or unacceptable record.
Read More:
Sen. Josh Hawley: Biden Judicial Nominee Exposed for Lying About Ties to Antisemitic Organization, Support for Far-left Candidate
Jewish News Syndicate: ‘You’ve created confusion deliberately,’ Hawley tells judicial nominee who advised anti-Israel group
TownHall: Republican Senators Grill Biden’s Judicial Nominee
World Tribune: Busted: GOP senators slam Biden judicial pick for lying about ties to leftist radicals