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AP Falsely Blames Graham for Tearful Exit

January 11, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - People for the Alito Way, a coalition of more than 300 organizations supporting the confirmation of Judge Samuel A. Alito as Associate Justice to the US Supreme Court, is appalled and disappointed at the distorted story which the Associated Press released to the wire services today.

Judge Alito's wife, Martha, quietly came to tears as Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) apologized for the tremendous stress and harsh attacks the judge and his family have endured as a result of the harsh and unfair personal attacks by Democratic Senators during the entire confirmation process. As Senator Graham continued, visibly shaken by Mrs. Alito's reaction, she exited the hearings to regain her composure.

Contrary to the facts of the situation, the Associated Press distorted the exchange and events reporting that Senator Graham caused Mrs. Alito to break down because he was asking Judge Alito if he was a "closet bigot."

The AP reported the story as follows:

Martha-Ann Bomgardner, who had sat behind her husband for hours of questioning over several days, left as her husband was being questioned by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

"Are you really a closet bigot?" Graham asked Alito. The nominee said no, and Graham said, "No sir, you're not."

"Mrs. Alito has shown grace under pressure after months of abuse at the hands of well-funded, left wing organizations and their Democratic minions on the Senate Judiciary Committee," said Kay Daly, President of the Coalition for a Fair Judiciary. "For the Associated Press to misrepresent these events in an attempt to smear Republican Senator Lindsey Graham sets a new low in the already subterranean level of journalistic standards on display in Judge Alito's confirmation process."

In actuality, Senator Graham was facetiously asking Judge Alito if he was a bigot as a result of baseless lines of questioning by Democrats. The apologetic exchange that caused Mrs. Alito's tearful exit was grossly misrepresented by the Associated Press.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Samuel Alito was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President George W. Bush. People for the Alito Way believes in a fair hearing followed by a civil debate and a prompt vote. For more information please visit www.peopleforthealitoway.com.