Major Controversies Surrounding Elizabeth Warren: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Elizabeth Warren.

Elizabeth Warren is a prominent American politician and the senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts since 2013. As a Democrat with progressive views, her senatorial work centers on consumer protection, economic equality, and strengthening social safety nets. Prior to her political career, she was a distinguished law professor. Warren was a presidential candidate in the 2020 Democratic primaries, where she finished third.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1984: Contributed to Native American Cookbook

In 1984, Elizabeth Warren contributed recipes to a Native American cookbook and identified herself as Cherokee.

1986: Identified as American Indian on State Bar of Texas Form

In 1986, Elizabeth Warren identified her race as "American Indian" on a State Bar of Texas write-in form used for statistical information gathering, but added that there was "no indication it was used for professional advancement".

1995: Harvard Law School Listed Warren as Native American

From 1995 to 2004, Elizabeth Warren's employer, Harvard Law School, listed her as a Native American in its federal affirmative action forms; Warren later said she was unaware of this.

2004: Harvard Law School Listed Warren as Native American

From 1995 to 2004, Elizabeth Warren's employer, Harvard Law School, listed her as a Native American in its federal affirmative action forms; Warren later said she was unaware of this.

2005: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

In 2005, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which curtailed consumers' ability to file for bankruptcy, despite Warren's opposition.

2005: Bankruptcy Act

In 2005, the act restricting bankruptcy access for individuals, which Warren had opposed, became law.

2012: Scott Brown Speculated Warren Fabricated Native Ancestry

During Elizabeth Warren's first Senate race in 2012, her opponent, Scott Brown, speculated that she had fabricated Native ancestry to gain advantage on the employment market and used Elizabeth Warren's ancestry in several attack ads. Warren denied that her alleged heritage gave her any advantages in her schooling or her career.

2012: Native American Heritage Claim

In 2012, Elizabeth Warren stated that "being Native American has been part of my story, I guess, since the day I was born".

2016: Foreign Government Attacked 2016 Election

In April 2019, Elizabeth Warren referenced the Mueller Report in her call to impeach Donald Trump, citing the report's claim that a hostile foreign government attacked the 2016 election to help Donald Trump, and that Donald Trump welcomed that help.

February 2017: Senate rebukes Warren for reading Coretta Scott King letter

During Jeff Sessions's attorney general nomination debate in February 2017, Elizabeth Warren quoted a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King. Senate Republicans ruled Warren had violated Senate rules, prohibiting her from further debate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's rebuke, 'She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted,' became a slogan for Warren.

July 2018: Trump's 'Pocahontas' Remark at Montana Rally

At a July 2018 Montana rally, President Donald Trump mocked Elizabeth Warren for her assertions of Native American ancestry and pejoratively called her "Pocahontas".

October 2018: Release of DNA Test Analysis

In October 2018, Elizabeth Warren released an analysis of a DNA test by geneticist Carlos D. Bustamante that found her ancestry to be mostly European but "strongly support[ed] the existence of an unadmixed Native American ancestor".

2018: Boston Globe Investigation on Ethnicity

A 2018 Boston Globe investigation found that Elizabeth Warren's reported ethnicity played no role in her rise in the academic legal profession.

2018: Called for abolishing ICE

In 2018, Elizabeth Warren called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

January 2019: Warren Addressed DNA Testing Concerns in Iowa

During a January 2019 public appearance in Sioux City, Iowa, Elizabeth Warren responded to concerns about her DNA testing and its impact on tribal sovereignty.

January 2019: Criticized Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan

In January 2019, Elizabeth Warren criticized Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, arguing that such withdrawals should be part of a "coordinated" plan with U.S. allies.

February 2019: Apologized for Identifying as Native American

In February 2019, Elizabeth Warren apologized for having identified as Native American.

April 2019: Called for Impeachment Proceedings Against Trump

In April 2019, after reading the Mueller report, Elizabeth Warren called on the House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump.

August 2019: Apology at Native American Forum in Iowa

In August 2019, Elizabeth Warren apologized again before a Native American Forum in Iowa for any confusion or harm caused by her announcement regarding tribal sovereignty and citizenship.

2019: Comments on Warren's Political Shift

In 2019, comments surfaced from high school friends and colleagues regarding Warren's shift from conservative to progressive political views.

2021: Condemns Capitol Attack

In 2021, Elizabeth Warren was at the Capitol during the attack by Trump supporters. She condemned the events as an "attempted coup" and labeled the perpetrators as "domestic terrorists", later calling for President Trump's removal from office.