WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) applauded last night’s Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to allow local police officers who are on federal task forces to wear body cameras. Norton and Beyer have introduced two body camera bills: The first bill, which passed the House this year, would require all uniformed federal police officers to wear body cameras and have dashboard cameras in police vehicles, and the second bill would prohibit the federal government from refusing to work with local police departments that require their officers to wear body cameras, which would essentially codify DOJ’s new policy. IDOJ had prohibited local police officers on federal task forces from wearing body cameras.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today commented on the Senate confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States. As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) Judicial Nominations Task Force, Norton spent time reading Barrett’s previous decisions and concluded that Judge Barrett’s disregard for precedent posed considerable danger to the legitimacy of the Court and particularly to African Americans, who disproportionately rely on judicial precedents, such as those upholding the Affordable Care Act.