Republican Senators Urge Trump to Sever Ties with American Bar Association, Citing Bias
A coalition of Republican senators is intensifying pressure on former President Donald Trump to sever all ties with the American Bar Association (ABA), alleging that the organization has become politically biased and ideologically captured. In a strongly worded letter addressed to ABA President William Bay, the lawmakers assert that the ABA, traditionally a key player in evaluating judicial nominees, has abandoned its impartiality and is now actively promoting a partisan agenda.
The letter, spearheaded by Senators Eric Schmitt, Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn, Josh Hawley, Bernie Moreno, and Mike Lee, calls for President Trump to completely remove the ABA from the judicial nomination process. The senators are also urging their colleagues in the Senate to disregard the ABA’s recommendations when considering judicial appointments.
The senators’ explosive letter levels a series of allegations against the ABA, including claims that the organization has taken explicit political stances against the Trump administration and has been reticent about its receipt of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID, a federal aid group, has been a frequent target of criticism from the Trump administration, a stance that the ABA has publicly challenged.
The letter quotes the ABA as stating, "Americans expect better." However, the senators retort, "But President Trump won both electoral and popular votes. It seems Americans expect – and want – the Trump administration."
Senator Schmitt amplified the letter’s message through a tweet, reiterating the senators’ criticisms of the ABA’s recent actions and statements. He specifically highlighted statements published by the ABA on February 10 and March 3, both of which were critical of the Trump administration.
The ABA’s February 10 statement expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s early actions, stating, "It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule of law." The statement also condemned the "dismantling of USAID."
The senators, in their letter, accuse the ABA of making "inflammatory claims" against the Trump administration "without citing legal reasoning for those arguments." They point to the ABA’s assertion that the "dismantling of USAID" is illegal, noting that the organization fails to provide any legal justification for this claim.
"It is questionable whether the ABA is committed to defending liberty or its own sources of funding," the senators wrote, alluding to the organization’s defense of USAID.
The lawmakers also took issue with the ABA’s March 3 statement, which criticized purported "efforts to undermine the courts." The senators contend that the ABA remained silent when former President Joe Biden defied the Supreme Court on student loan forgiveness, suggesting a double standard in the organization’s approach.
Furthermore, the senators’ letter criticizes the ABA’s implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which the Trump administration has been actively working to eliminate from government institutions. The senators view these policies as evidence of the ABA’s ideological bias and departure from its traditional role as an impartial evaluator of judicial candidates.
The Republican senators’ call to sever ties with the ABA represents a significant escalation in the ongoing debate over the organization’s role in the judicial nomination process. The ABA has long played a prominent role in vetting judicial nominees, providing ratings based on its assessment of their qualifications, integrity, and judicial temperament. These ratings have often been influential in shaping the Senate’s confirmation decisions.
However, critics of the ABA have argued that the organization has become increasingly politicized, particularly in recent years. They contend that the ABA’s ratings reflect the ideological preferences of its members, rather than objective assessments of a nominee’s qualifications.
The Republican senators’ letter is likely to intensify scrutiny of the ABA and its role in the judicial nomination process. It also raises questions about the future of the ABA’s relationship with the Trump administration and the Senate. If President Trump heeds the senators’ call and removes the ABA from the judicial nomination process, it would represent a significant blow to the organization’s influence and prestige.
The senators’ actions also reflect a broader trend of growing skepticism toward institutions perceived as biased or captured by political agendas. As political polarization intensifies, it is likely that the debate over the ABA’s role will continue to be a contentious issue.
