Adeel Mangi, President Joe Biden’s nominee for the federal appellate court, faced contentious questioning during his confirmation hearing from Republican Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley. Mangi, set to become the first Muslim-American appeals court judge if confirmed, was pressed on topics unrelated to his expertise.
Senators asked Mangi about the 9/11 attacks, the October 7 incident in Israel, and Tel Aviv’s stance on the Palestine issue. Critics, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, condemned the senators for introducing irrelevant and hostile questions.
Mangi condemned terrorism and antisemitism during the hearing. Senator Cruz’s persistent questioning led to intervention by committee chair Senator Dick Durbin. Durbin apologized to Mangi for the hostile treatment, emphasizing Mangi’s nomination received support from the National Council of Jewish Women.
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Senator Cory Booker described the senators’ behavior as shameful and recommended Mangi’s nomination to the White House. President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Maya Wiley, emphasized the importance of diversity in the judiciary, praising Mangi as an excellent choice.
