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Congressman Fitzpatrick Expresses Outrage Over Adegbile Nomination

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick spoke out about his opposition to the nomination of Debo Adegbile to head the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division with Chris Stigall Tuesday morning on 1210 WPHT.

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Mike Fitzpatrick

"It was a straight party line vote. The members of the Democrat side of the aisle just put their head down as if they were robotic -- without emotion, conversation or discussion -- they just voted 10-8 to pass this on," Fitzpatrick said, criticizing the passage of the nomination by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

While with the NAACP's Legal Defense and Education Fund, Adegbile worked to appeal the 1982 conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

"This is a no-brainer. For the police department in the city of Philadelphia, this is as clear as it gets. Are you with us or against us? It is beyond disturbing," an outraged Fitzpatrick said.

Stigall pressed Fitzpatrick on whether he thought Senator Bob Casey had a responsibility to push other Democratic Senators to join the opposition to the nomination.

"I've spoken to [Faulkner's widow] Maureen several times. I know that she has reached out to Casey's office, and I know that he has been very kind and spoken to her. But I don't believe he has indicated to her how he would vote," Fitzpatrick responded.

Next, the nomination process will move on to the entire Senate. It needs 51 votes to pass.

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