Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tore into Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Thursday for accusing him of opposing a federal judicial nominee on the basis of religion.

President Joe Biden has nominated Adeel Abdullah Mangi to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. If his controversial nomination succeeds, he would become the highest-ranking Muslim on the federal judiciary.

Mangi's nomination is not controversial because of his faith. Rather, Mangi served on the advisory board of Rutgers Law School's controversial Center for Security, Race and Rights from 2019 to 2023. The organization, according to Cruz, has a history of anti-Semitism and deep anti-Israel sentiment and has, in the past, hosted at least one speaker who was criminally convicted of supporting the Palestine Islamic Jihad, a terrorist organization.

At his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last month, Mangi insisted he had no role in the controversial decisions and associations of CSRR.

Prior to the committee voting on Mangi's nomination, Cruz spent 10 minutes reminding his Senate colleagues of the concerns about Mangi and his association with the CSRR.

But instead of responding to the substance of those concerns, Durbin insulted Cruz.

"What is it about Adeel Mangi that attracts such criticism? We know what the starting point is. He would be the first Muslim-American to be appointed to serve on the circuit bench," Durbin said.

"And we know because of that, he is a target. ... So what is this man? And why should we be concerned? You've just heard a presentation, a suggestion that because of his background, he is likely to be either anti-Semitic or a terrorist because he's a Muslim-American."

Cruz was not happy with Durbin's accusation that opposition to Mangi's nomination is because of his Muslim faith.

"You have just impugned my character by making a false accusation, and I will say it is disgraceful!" Cruz chided. "Did you respond to any of the substance of what I said? No! You just attacked me and called me a bigot, and you responded by stating deliberate falsehoods."

And when Durbin tried to interrupt him, Cruz shut him down.

"Excuse me, I have a right to defend myself when you impugn my character in a way that is a new low for this committee," he said. "You did not dispute any of the facts I said about the organization that he was an adviser of, he was a donor of, he raised money for."

Later, Durbin said that Mangi had "no connection" to the CSRR, which lit another fire under Cruz.

"Did you just say he had no connection with this organization? Is that seriously what you said in this hearing?" Cruz interjected. "He was on the board of advisers, he was a donor and raised money for it, but you just said he has no connection with them?"

"See? You twist this situation," Durbin accused.

When Cruz followed up by asking Durbin if he really believes that Mangi had "no connection" to the CSRR, Durbin refused to answer.

"OK, you're refusing to answer because it's obviously indefensible and false," Cruz said.

After the tense moment, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Democrats, advanced Mangi's nomination to the full Senate by a vote of 11-10.

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