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Another prominent theme in the hearing was the nominee's grasp of constitutional issues, particularly those rooted in the 14th Amendment. After multiple attempts to discuss the citizenship Clause, the nominee's responses fell short. Senators raised serious concerns about her readiness to uphold established legal principles such as birthright citizenship—a cornerstone of American law.
The task of the nominee as a potential chief law enforcement officer is to defend rather than reinterpret the Constitution. Questions regarding her willingness to support established laws regarding citizenship heightened anxiety amongst lawmakers, who questioned whether she could operate impartially and responsibly within her intended role.