Congressman Cohen Discusses Crime Fighting and Voting and Disability Rights with Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today questioned Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General overseeing the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, at an oversight hearing.

Clarke and U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz announced in July that the Civil Rights Division would investigate a pattern or practice of discrimination by the Memphis Police Department following the beating death of Tyre Nichols.

In his line of questioning, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“Can you tell me some of what you’ve done, and the Justice Department has done, to improve cities’ capacities to fight crime, which is a serious issue in this country today and particularly in my city of Memphis, Tennessee?...

“Civil rights enforcement and the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act are three of my major issues. What exactly is the Department of Justice doing to enforce the Voting Rights Act? I know we’ve seen some actions in Alabama and in Louisiana and maybe in another of the southern states. What have you done there and on disabilities rights as well?”

In her response, Clarke said: “Public safety is an important priority for the Justice Department and for our Attorney General. My colleagues in the Criminal Division, a sister component, recently launched an initiative in your city of Memphis to deal with violent crime. While I can’t speak to that initiative, what I can assure you is that this Justice Department is committed to partnering with jurisdictions and officials to ensure public safety.”

Clarke, who began her career enforcing voting rights, said the department remains “steadfast” in its commitment to voting rights and the rights of the disabled.

See the entire exchange here.

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