ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Speaks on Senate Floor in Opposition to Lynch Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to uphold the rule of law and oppose the nomination of Loretta Lynch to the Office of Attorney General.

Below are excerpts from Sen. Cruz's remarks.

"Bringing in a new Attorney General should be turning a positive page in this country, but unfortunately the answers that Ms. Lynch gave at the confirmation hearing, in my opinion render her unsuitable for confirmation as Attorney General of the United States."

"When asked further who has more right to a job, a United States citizen or a person who came to this country illegally, she responded, ‘I believe that the right and the obligation to work is one that's shared by everyone in this country, regardless of how they came here.' Well, Mr. President, a very large majority of the American citizens would beg to differ. Rule of law matters."

"I wanted to see a new Attorney General who would be faithful to law, but her answers made that impossible. And I would note there is a difference. Eric Holder began disregarding the Constitution and laws after he was confirmed as Attorney General. Ms. Lynch has told the Senate that's what she's going to do. And that means each and every one of us bears responsibility... and I would note a particular onus falls on the new Republican majority. For several months, I've called on the Republican majority to block the confirmation of President Obama's executive and judicial nominees other than vital national security positions unless and until the President rescinds his lawless amnesty.... The Republican majority, if it so chose, could defeat this nomination, but the Republican majority has chosen to go forward and allow Loretta Lynch to be confirmed. I would note there are more than a few voters back home that are asking what exactly is the difference between a Democratic and Republican majority when the exact same individual gets confirmed as Attorney General, promising the exact same lawlessness, what's the difference?...

"In my view, the obligation of every Senator to defend the Constitution is front and center why we are here. We have a nominee who has told the United States Senate she is unwilling to impose any limits whatsoever on the authority of the President of the United States. In the next 20 months, we are sadly going to see more and more lawlessness, more recklessness, more abuse of power, more executive lawlessness. Now more than ever, we need an Attorney General with the integrity and faithfulness of law to stand up to the President."

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