Leahy Faults White House
For ‘Slow-Walking’ Roberts Papers
That Were Promised To The Senate

[Following are the comments of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt., ranking member, Senate Judiciary Committee) on Wednesday’s Washington Post disclosure that White House officials are delaying the release of tens of thousands of pages of Reagan-era documents relating to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.]

“I am greatly concerned about news reports in which unnamed White House sources seem to be acknowledging that papers pertinent to this nomination and promised to the Senate are being kept under wraps.  Slow-walking these papers has the effect of running out the clock as the Senate prepares for confirmation hearings that now are only weeks away. 

“We have worked in good faith with the White House in setting an early start date for these hearings and in myriad other ways as the Senate prepares to fulfill its constitutional role.  In good faith we have also requested steps to prioritize and expedite the screening of these documents.  The Senate needs good faith cooperation from the White House in return.

“For this lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, the Senate has one chance to get it right, and timely cooperation from the White House is essential in helping the Senate make the right decision on behalf of the American people.”

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Contact: David Carle, 202-224-3693