Dear Mr. Chairman and Senator Grassley,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to provide our perspective on the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be our nation’s next Associate Attorney General.
Ms. Gupta has built her successful career in law and legal policy as a strong defender of civil rights, most recently as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. The FOP has maintained an ongoing collaborative dialog that reflected a working relationship with Ms. Gupta which began in 2014 when she took the leadership role in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
During her tenure at the Justice Department, Ms. Gupta was directly involved in high-profile incidents like the police-involved shooting in Ferguson, MO, as well as investigations focused on police departments in Chicago and Baltimore. In executing the duties of her office, Ms. Gupta was in regular contact with the FOP on matters of mutual concern or interest. She always worked with us to find common ground even when that seemed impossible. Although in some instances our disagreements remain, her open and candid approach has created a working relationship that is grounded in mutual respect and understanding. This extensive interaction with Ms. Gupta over a period of years informs our belief that, if confirmed as Associate Attorney General, she will continue her practice of working with us to find solutions.
On behalf of the more than 356,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, we thank you for considering our views. If I can provide any more information on this nomination, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President