President Joe Biden should stand by the New Jersey lawyer he nominated

By James J. Devine

Democratic leaders must come forward to condemn recent bigoted attacks against Adeel Mangi, a New Jersey lawyer nominated by President Joe Biden to become the first Muslim American to sit on a federal appeals court and the White House should declare war on the kind of incessant lies that threaten this nomination.

Mangi’s nomination to the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ignited controversy, with Republicans, police unions, and even a handful of Democratic senators launching unfounded character attacks against him.

Attacks against Mangi to derail his nomination have been Islamophobic, offensive, and contrary to the essence of our justice system, which should reflect the rich diversity of our nation. We should have a higher level of integrity, a stronger sense of justice and impartiality, and most of all, our judgments should be factual and fair.

Among those vehemently denouncing these attacks are Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, progressive New Jersey Democrat Lisa McCormick, a coalition of 11 attorneys general, and Jewish organizations representing more than one million Americans – including the American Jewish Committee, the National Council for Jewish Women, and a coalition of 15 Jewish organizations.

McCormick specifically criticized Representative Tom Kean’s recent character attacks on the judicial nominee, labeling them as unacceptable and bigoted. Kean cited Mangi’s thin association with a Rutgers University center that studies minority group repression related to racial and religious identity as grounds for his opposition, drawing swift condemnation from McCormick and others.

Biden’s pick for the historic appointment has faced opposition not only from Republicans but also from three Democratic senators: Jacky Rosen, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Joe Manchin.

Rosen cited concerns from law enforcement in Nevada as her reason for opposing Mangi’s nomination, a move that drew sharp criticism in light of the pervasive corruption and racism in law enforcement.

Many police groups that do not condone brutality and dishonesty, nearly a dozen Attorneys General, and a bipartisan group of former AGs and U.S. attorneys are backing Mangi.

The attacks on Mangi have been characterized as part of a broader campaign of bigotry orchestrated by Republicans and their allies but it is even more nefarious than that.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said Republican opposition stems from the GOP’s desire to maintain the conservative majority on the Third Circuit.

Biden should publicly challenge Democratic senators who align with the opposition, questioning their motives and standing against what are baseless attacks on Mangi.

Despite the onslaught of criticism, Mangi’s supporters have remained steadfast.

Jewish community leaders and advocates have voiced their support for his nomination, emphasizing his record and condemning the Islamophobic lines of questioning he has faced.

Mangi’s affiliation with the Alliance of Families for Justice, a group dedicated to criminal justice reform, has been highlighted as a positive attribute, with actor Danny Glover among those expressing admiration for the organization’s mission.

In the face of adversity, the White House has reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for Mangi’s confirmation, labeling the criticism against him as “baseless.”

This is a fight worth fighting and one that must be won. The White House should threaten everything in its arsenal to obtain confirmation from closing military bases and post offices in Nevada to shutting down pet projects the recalcitrant lawmakers have worked on for years, because on every level Mangi’s qualified and deserving of this position.

At a time of virulent antisemitism and rising hate against Muslim Americans, unfounded attacks such as those against Mangi are unacceptable and should be rejected outright.

Dirty tricks and lies have successfully derailed progress in America too many times and this is the time to go to the wall to show that such tactics will no longer be tolerated.