WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
introduced Steve Dettelbach at his U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation
hearing to serve as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF). Mr. Dettelbach is a Cleveland native and from 2009 until
2016, served as the Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of
Ohio.
“I have known Steve for years, and watched him tackle some of the
Department of Justice’s most sensitive cases – cases at the intersection of law
enforcement and civil rights,” said Brown. “I can think of no better
way to support law enforcement, to reject hate, and to keep Americans safe from
violent crime, than for this committee and the entire Senate to confirm Steve
Dettelbach as ATF Director.”
Dettelbach has earned the endorsement from numerous law enforcement groups including the National Sheriffs’
Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the
Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, Women in Federal Law
Enforcement, and the International Association
of Chiefs of Police. Dettelbach has also been endorsed by more than 140 former
federal prosecutors and eight former ATF Directors, and civil rights
organizations, like the National Urban League and the Leadership Conference on
Civil and Human Rights, and faith organizations like the Jewish Federation of
North America.
Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available
below:
Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Grassley, Members of the
Committee,
We hold this hearing with heavy hearts. 21 more families are
mourning unimaginable loss today.
Yet again, elementary school children are dead, in a senseless act
of violence. Yet again, a community is grieving. Yet again, Americans will cry
out for politicians to do something to keep our children safe.
How many times are we going to allow this to happen?
There is so much we need to do – we must do – to prevent more
tragedies. We can’t discuss it all here today, but one step I hope members of
both parties take is to finally get a permanent ATF director on the job.
And there is no better person for that role than Steve Dettelbach
– a son of Ohio, a career public servant, and President Biden’s nominee to fill
this important law enforcement position.
Steve Dettelbach has the experience and the record to do this job
combatting violent crime, and keeping Americans safe.
As U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steve worked with
law enforcement, including the ATF, to prosecute tough cases.
I have known Steve for years, and watched him tackle some of the
Department of Justice’s most sensitive cases – cases at the intersection of law
enforcement and civil rights.
He prosecuted a white supremacist who tried to burn down First
Azusa Apostolic Faith Church – a predominately Black church in Conneaut, Ohio
in Ashtabula County. Steve not only prosecuted the man responsible, he helped
create a clergy group, “United Against Hate.”
When he prosecuted the firebombing of the largest mosque in
Northwest Ohio, Steve – a practicing Jew – attended worship services there as a
show of solidarity.
Steve has lived the value of religious freedom, and consistently
stood up against hate and extremism, no matter whom it was directed at.
Steve understands that politics must play no role in running the
ATF, and his experience and his record bear that out.
It’s why he has broad support from across the ideological
spectrum, including prosecutors and law enforcement officials who understand
what it takes to do the job.
This includes law enforcement groups like:
- NOBLE – the National Organization of Black Law
Enforcement Executives,
- the Hispanic American Police Command Officers
Association,
- Women in Federal Law Enforcement the International
Association of Chiefs of Police, and
- the Major County Sheriffs Association, the National
Sheriffs’ Association,
It includes more than 140 former federal prosecutors, 8 former ATF
Directors, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the
Association representing the men and women of the ATF.
He also has the support of civil rights organizations, like the
National Urban League and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights,
and faith organizations like the Jewish Federation of North America.
I can think of no better way to support law enforcement, to reject
hate, and to keep Americans safe from violent crime, than for this committee
and the entire Senate to confirm Steve Dettelbach as ATF Director.
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