President Biden nominated Adeel Mangi to serve on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, but his confirmation could be prevented by Democrats dismayed by controversy surrounding him. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Mangi has been affiliated with both the Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR) at Rutgers Law School and the Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ), both of which have controversial records.
The CSRR has hosted numerous speakers that the advocacy group Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ and watchdog group Judicial Crisis Network (JCN), among others, have accused of antisemitism. The speakers included associate professor Noura Erakat, who was advertised in 2020 to be participating in a panel alongside senior Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad. Many of the center's events that have been subject to public outcry have notably occurred after Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
The group has also welcomed speakers who have been accused by JCN and others of sympathizing with terrorists connected to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
Mangi served on the organization's advisory board from 2019 to 2023.
The AFJ also has ties that concern some lawmakers. One of its founding board members, Kathy Boudin, was affiliated with the FBI-designated domestic terrorist organization Weather Underground and pleaded guilty to murdering two police officers and a security guard in 1981 while robbing an armored truck.
Mangi is listed as a current advisory board member for AFJ.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin attends a news conference after a meeting with Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol Nov. 29, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer)
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has already raised concerns over Mangi.
"It is becoming more and more clear every day that Mangi is not going to have the votes to get confirmed," Cruz told Fox News Digital. "And it was foolish for President Biden to nominate an individual who has a record of serving on the board of an organization that has rationalized and apologized for 9/11 and has welcomed radical terrorists to its programming."
The only question left, he said, is "how long the White House will let Mr. Mangi hang out on a limb."
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At the same time, many Democrats reiterated their plan to support Mangi when speaking to Fox News Digital Tuesday.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said he will vote to confirm Biden's nominee "as I did in committee."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks with members of the media while arriving in the Senate Subway during a vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I urge President Biden to seriously listen to these concerns and withdraw Mr. Mangi’s nomination."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the White House defended the president's choice for the court.
"President Biden is proud to have nominated Adeel Mangi, whose extraordinary qualifications and integrity are gaining him new backing each day, including from the seventh law enforcement organization to endorse his confirmation, as well as retired circuit Judge Timothy Lewis, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush," said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates.
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He claimed Mangi is "being targeted by a malicious and debunked smear campaign solely because he would make history as the first Muslim to serve as a federal appellate judge."
Bates further urged Senate Democrats to "side with the qualities that make America exceptional — which Mr. Mangi embodies — not the hateful forces trying to force America into the past."
Fox News Digital has reached out to CSRR, AFJ and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, where Mangi is a partner, for comment.
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