Major Controversies Surrounding Dick Durbin: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Dick Durbin—discover key moments of controversy.

Dick Durbin is a prominent American politician and the senior U.S. Senator from Illinois, serving since 1997. A Democrat, he has been the Senate Democratic Whip since 2005, holding the record as the longest-serving Democratic whip since 1913. He also served as the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2021 to 2025. Notably, Durbin led the Supreme Court nomination hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2004: Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield bars Durbin from receiving communion

In 2004, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois barred Dick Durbin from receiving communion because he voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Durbin responded that he is accountable to his constituents, even if it means defying Church teachings.

June 14, 2005: Durbin compares Camp X-Ray interrogation techniques to Nazi Germany and Soviet Union

On June 14, 2005, Dick Durbin compared interrogation techniques used at Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay, as reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to those utilized by regimes such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Khmer Rouge in the U.S. Senate chambers.

June 21, 2005: Durbin apologizes for Guantanamo Bay remarks

On June 21, 2005, Dick Durbin apologized for his remarks comparing Guantanamo Bay interrogation techniques to those of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, stating that "occasionally words fail us."

2005: Durbin compares Guantanamo Bay to Nazi and Soviet atrocities

In 2005, Dick Durbin compared U.S. treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to atrocities committed by "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags...Pol Pot or others." He later apologized to the military for the remarks.

April 25, 2007: Durbin claims knowledge of Bush Administration misleading public on Iraq war

On April 25, 2007, Dick Durbin stated that he knew in 2002 that the Bush Administration was misleading the American people into the war on Iraq but could not reveal it due to secrecy oaths as an intelligence committee member.

October 2007: Durbin Opposes Casino Bill in Illinois

In October 2007, Durbin opposed a bill in the Illinois General Assembly that would allow three casinos to be built, questioning whether building more casinos was the future of Illinois.

2007: Durbin calls for reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine

In 2007, as Senate Majority Whip, Dick Durbin publicly stated, 'It's time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine.'

April 27, 2009: Durbin blames banks for 2008 financial crisis

In an April 27, 2009, interview, Dick Durbin stated that banks were responsible for the 2008 financial crisis and have excessive influence on Capitol Hill.

2010: Durbin cosponsors Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act

In 2010, Dick Durbin cosponsored and passed from committee the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, a bill to combat media piracy by blacklisting websites. Many opposed to the bill argue that it violates First Amendment rights and promotes censorship.

July 2014: Americas PAC releases radio advertisement attacking Durbin's staff salaries

In July 2014, Americas PAC released a radio advertisement attacking Durbin's staff salaries, based on a Washington Times article alleging that Durbin's female staff members made $11,000 less annually than his male staffers. Durbin's lawyers responded with a letter claiming the information was false, but the radio station continued airing the ad.

2014: Report of potential conflicts of interest regarding Durbin's wife's lobbying clients

In 2014, the Chicago Tribune reported that some of Dick Durbin's wife's "clients have received federal funding promoted by [Durbin]". The Durbins maintain that they try to avoid conflicts of interest.

December 2017: CFPB role in overseeing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 5 other senators sent CFPB director Kathy Kraninger a letter requesting that Kraninger clarify the CFPB's role in overseeing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness's student loan servicers handling since December 2017, such as examinations.

2017: Durbin questioned Amy Coney Barrett about her self-descriptive terminology "orthodox Catholic"

In 2017, Dick Durbin was criticized for requesting a clarification from then Court of Appeals nominee Amy Coney Barrett during her Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing about her self-descriptive terminology "orthodox Catholic." He contended that such terminology might unfairly characterize Catholics who may not agree with the church's positions about abortion or the death penalty.

March 2018: Durbin criticizes FCC proposal to curb Lifeline program benefits

In March 2018, Dick Durbin and 9 other senators criticized FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal that would curb the scope of benefits from the Lifeline program, arguing it was Pai's obligation to improve the Lifeline program to ensure more Americans can afford access to broadband and phone service.

July 2018: Durbin called for Kirstjen Nielsen to resign

In July 2018, Dick Durbin said Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen should resign over the Trump administration family separation policy.

December 2018: Durbin expresses concern over Trump administration's suspension of obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

In December 2018, Dick Durbin and 25 other senators signed a letter expressing concern after the Trump administration announced it was suspending its obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. They called on Trump to continue arms negotiations.

2018: Bishop Thomas John Paprocki affirms decision to deny Durbin communion

In 2018, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki affirmed the decision to deny Dick Durbin communion in the Springfield Diocese after Durbin's vote against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

2018: Trump prevents the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 33 other senators asserted that Trump was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" by preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding.

April 2019: Durbin encourages Trump to reverse decision damaging national security and aggravating conditions inside Central America

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 33 other senators signed a letter to Trump encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance".

April 2019: Durbin expresses concern that CFPB leadership abandoned supervision and enforcement activities

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 5 other senators sent CFPB director Kathy Kraninger a letter expressing concern that "CFPB leadership has abandoned its supervision and enforcement activities related to federal student loan servicers" and opining that such behavior displayed "a shocking disregard for the financial well-being of our nation's public servants".

August 2019: Durbin responds to Novartis falsifying data

In August 2019, Dick Durbin, three other Senate Democrats, and Bernie Sanders signed a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless in response to Novartis falsifying data as part of an attempt to gain the FDA's approval for its new gene therapy Zolgensma. They wrote that it was "unconscionable".

October 2019: Durbin blocks Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

In October 2019, Dick Durbin blocked the passage of S.386, also known as the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. This bill aimed to eliminate per-country numerical limitations for employment-based immigrants and increase limitations for family-sponsored immigrants.

September 2020: Voted to Confirm Judges

In September 2020, Dick Durbin voted to confirm judges Stephen McGlynn and David W. Dugan to lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary in Illinois.

2021: Durbin participates in Electoral College vote count during Capitol attack

In 2021, Dick Durbin was participating in the United States Electoral College vote count when pro-Trump rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol. He evacuated to a secure location and blamed Trump for the attack, calling for his removal.

2022: Durbin Opposed Overturning of Roe v. Wade

In 2022, Dick Durbin opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

November 2023: Durbin calls for ceasefire in Gaza war

In November 2023, Dick Durbin was the first U.S. senator to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

January 2024: Durbin votes against resolution applying human rights provisions to U.S. aid to Israel

In January 2024, Dick Durbin voted against a resolution proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated.

March 2024: Durbin urges Biden administration to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state

In March 2024, Dick Durbin urged the Biden administration to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state after the end of the war in Gaza.

March 2025: Durbin votes to pass continuing resolution advancing Trump administration's spending bill

In March 2025, Dick Durbin voted with all Senate Republicans and nine Democrats to pass a continuing resolution, advancing the Trump administration's spending bill, angering many Democratic base constituents.

April 2025: Durbin votes for resolutions to cancel Trump administration's arms sales to Israel

In April 2025, Dick Durbin voted for a pair of resolutions Sanders proposed to cancel the Trump administration's sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel. The proposals were defeated.

2025: Supported Republican Budget Proposal

In 2025, Dick Durbin broke from party lines and supported the Republican budget proposal.

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