The U.S. Senate blocked President Barack Obama's pick to oversee the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division yesterday. The rejection came in large part due to Debo Adegile's role as a defense attorney in the Mumia Abu-Jamal case.
Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner during a routine traffic stop in 1981. Faulkner's wife, Maureen, petitioned to have the nomination blocked. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., read a letter from Mrs. Faulkner just before the vote on the Senate floor. The controversial nomination was only narrowly defeated with a 47-52 vote.
The day after Adegile was rejected by the Senate, reaction on social media was mixed. Even Philadelphia Distrct Attorney Seth Williams jumped into the fray on Twitter after City Council attorney Jennifer Kates tweeted at him.
Photo Credit: AP
