Attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch gave three Republican senators written confirmation that she would follow a Texas court’s ruling that has temporarily stopped President Obama’s actions on immigration.
According to a letter released by Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Ms. Lynch confirmed that she would “follow the injunction as it is worded unless and until the injunction is stayed, lifted or altered by the district court itself, by the Fifth Circuit or by the Supreme Court.”
Earlier this month, a Texas judge ruled that the Department of Homeland Security must stop implementing the president’s executive orders on immigration that would grant a stay of deportation to millions of immigrants. The White House has said it will appeal the ruling, and has asked for an injunction against the decision so that Mr. Obama’s immigration policies can move forward.
But Mr. Obama’s actions became a sticking point for many Republicans during Ms. Lynch’s confirmation hearing, and many heavily criticized her support for the president’s executive orders.
Mr. Hatch and fellow Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sent the letter asking whether Ms. Lynch would follow the court ruling. She confirmed she would, which apparently reassured the three lawmakers since they were the only Republicans to join Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in voting to approve her nomination.
• Phillip Swarts can be reached at pswarts@washingtontimes.com.
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