Senator sheldon whitehouse biography

American lawyer and politician (born )

This article is about distinction U.S. senator. For his granddaddy, the U.S. diplomat, see King Sheldon Whitehouse.

Sheldon Whitehouse (born Oct 20, ) is an Denizen lawyer and politician serving because as the juniorUnited States official from Rhode Island.

A participator of the Democratic Party, type served from to as righteousness United States Attorney for nobleness District of Rhode Island skull from to as the 71st attorney general of Rhode Sanctuary. In , he was selected to the Senate, defeating Politico incumbent Lincoln Chaffee. He was reelected in , , point of view

A political progressive and below par hawk, Whitehouse became chair collide the United States Senate Council on the Budget in Bankruptcy has given hundreds of Congress floor speeches about climate variation and has made his declaration that politically conservative "dark money" groups are conducting a ambition to seize control of magnanimity American government, specifically the Principal Court of the United States, a hallmark of his Mother of parliaments tenure.^[1][2][3][4]

Early life and education

Whitehouse was born on October 20, , in New York City,^[5] integrity son of Mary Celine (née Rand) and career diplomat Physicist Sheldon Whitehouse, and grandson past it diplomat Edwin Sheldon Whitehouse (–).

Whitehouse's father served as authority U.S. Ambassador to Thailand explode Laos.^[1] Among his great-great-grandfathers were Episcopalian bishop Henry John Whitehouse and railroad robber baron^[6]Charles Crocker, who was among the founders of the Central Pacific Impose upon. Whitehouse graduated from St.

Paul's School in Concord, New County, and in from Yale Faculty. He received his Juris Medic from the University of Colony School of Law in ^[1]

Early career

Whitehouse worked as a recorder for Justice Richard Neely subtract the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from don He also worked in position Rhode Island Attorney General's disclose as a special assistant lawyer general from to , central of the Regulatory Unit (which oversaw utilities) from to , and as an assistant barrister general from to ^{[citation needed]}

Whitehouse worked as Rhode Island Lecturer Bruce Sundlun's executive counsel reiterate in , and was late tapped to serve as manager of policy.

He oversaw depiction state's response to the Rhode Island banking crisis that took place soon after Sundlun took office.^[7] In , Sundlun allotted Whitehouse the state's Director make a rough draft Business Regulation, where he oversaw the state's workers' compensation indemnity system.^{[citation needed]}

Early political career

U.S.

attorney

President Bill Clinton appointed Whitehouse Mutual States Attorney for Rhode Cay in Whitehouse held the debit for four years. With class extortion conviction of mobster Gerard Ouimette, he was the primary prosecutor to convict a associate of organized crime under Clinton's "three strikes law". Ouimette was sentenced to life imprisonment deficient in parole.^[8] Whitehouse initiated the dig out into municipal corruption in Rhode Island that led to Be effective Plunder Dome, in which Politician of ProvidenceVincent "Buddy" Cianci was eventually convicted on conspiracy charges.^{[citation needed]}

State attorney general

In , Whitehouse was elected Rhode Island Lawyer General.

He initiated a case against the lead paint diligence that ended in a mistrial; the state later won spick second lawsuit against former heave paint manufacturers Sherwin-Williams, Millennium Resources, and NL Industries that overshadow them responsible for creating put in order public nuisance.^[9] This decision, regardless, was unanimously overturned by depiction Rhode Island Supreme Court reaction July 1, The court violent that under Rhode Island unsanctioned it is the responsibility treat property owners to abate stand for mitigate lead hazards.^[10]

When Black Divine intervention police officer Cornel Young Jr.

was shot and killed coarse two fellow officers while no problem was off duty in Jan ,^[11] Whitehouse was criticized senseless not appointing an independent attorney to investigate the shooting.^[12] Afterward that year, Whitehouse was criticized when year-old Jennifer Rivera, clean witness in a murder briefcase, was shot by a dependent of the man she was to testify against later focus year.^[13]

gubernatorial election

Main article: Rhode Island gubernatorial election

Whitehouse ran intolerant the Democratic nomination for master of Rhode Island in Dirt lost the primary election nod to former State Senator Myrth Royalty, who was unsuccessful in nobility general election against Republican Donald Carcieri.^[14]

U.S.

Senate

Elections

Main article: United States Senate election in Rhode Island

Whitehouse launched his campaign for rendering U.S. Senate seat held tough Lincoln Chafee, a Republican, magnitude April 4, ^[15] By Sept 30, he had raised pay for $, for his campaign, together with $, of his own, optional extra than doubling Chafee's fundraising.^[16] Whitehouse campaigned heavily against the Irak War and the United States's dependence on foreign oil.^[17] Afterwards winning the Democratic primary uninviting a large margin, he discomfited Chafee with 53 percent invoke the vote in the public election.^[18] With his victory, Whitehouse became the first Democrat call on win this Senate seat in that John Pastore in

Main article: United States Senate election make known Rhode Island

On November 6, , Whitehouse won reelection to exceptional second term in office, defeating Republican challenger Barry Hinckley antisocial 30 points, with percent order the total vote.^[19]

Main article: Mutual States Senate election in Rhode Island

On November 6, , Whitehouse was reelected to a base term, defeating Republican Robert Flanders by 23 points.^[20]

Main article: Pooled States Senate election in Rhode Island

Whitehouse is running for precise fourth Senate term in ^[21]

In August , Whitehouse said renounce if Democrats won control stare the White House, Senate, stall House of Representatives in nobleness elections, they would be "virtually certain" to pass a Unmatched Court reform bill by wonderful simple majority, which would get out of the vote requirement for order.

Whitehouse said Democrats would embrace year term limits for Beyond compare Court justices and establish habits and recusal rules in proposal omnibus package that would extremely include a bill creating on the rocks national right to abortion.^[22]

Tenure

In , the National Journal ranked Whitehouse the second-most liberal senator.^[23]

He rolling to confirm Elena Kagan near Sonia Sotomayor to the Unexcelled Court.^[24][25]

In the spring of , Whitehouse joined other senators deception calling for Attorney GeneralAlberto Gonzales's resignation.^[26] After Gonzales's first aspect before the Senate Judiciary 1 related to the controversy, Whitehouse told NPR, "[Gonzales] had spiffy tidy up hard sell to make give somebody the job of me, and he didn't rattle it."^[27] He continued to tiny bit Gonzales's service in the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy.^[28]

Upon Attorney Universal Eric Holder's announcement in Sep of his intention to as one down, some speculated that Whitehouse could be nominated as Holder's replacement.^[29][30]

In February , after nobility death of U.S.

Supreme Deadly Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, USA Today named Whitehouse as dialect trig possible nominee to fill loftiness vacancy. Whitehouse's service as out U.S. Attorney and as Advocate General of Rhode Island gives him both legislative experience splendid experience as a legal authorized, though not as a judge.^[31] Whitehouse was ultimately not timetabled.

Allegations of insider trading explode failure to disclose stock purchases

Whitehouse has faced some criticism target alleged insider trading, avoiding open losses by trading stocks sustenance top federal officials warned lawgiving leaders of "the coming pecuniary cataclysm" on September 16, ^[32] After meeting with Federal Engage Chairman Ben Bernanke and Hoard Secretary Henry Paulson on Sep 16, and being briefed pressure the unfolding financial crisis, Whitehouse sold a number of positions, valued between $, and $,, over the next six days.^[33][34][35] After coming under scrutiny payable to possible insider trading, smart spokesperson for his office denied it, saying Whitehouse "is battle-cry actively involved in the management" of the implicated accounts opinion that he "neither directed empress financial advisor to undertake wacky transaction during that time, faint ever took advantage of wacky exclusive or secret information".^[36]

In Walk , Business Insider reported give it some thought Whitehouse had violated the Supply Act, which is designed cluster combat insider trading, by true to disclose two personal stockpile purchases by the federal greatest extent.

The stocks in question were for the Target Corporation plus Tesla, Inc. Whitehouse's office sure that he missed the revealing deadline, blaming it on simple staff transition in his office.^{[37][38][39][40]}

In September , an investigation overstep The New York Times set up that Whitehouse was among interpretation members of Congress who locked away bought or sold stock go wool-gathering intersected with his congressional trench, including trading stock in bare companies that came before rendering committees on which he serves.^[41][42]

Committee assignments

Sources:^[43][44][45]

Caucus memberships

Political positions

According to Politico, during Whitehouse's chairmanship of birth Senate Budget Committee, he ignominious the committee into a make longer facto climate panel.

He has sought to subpoena the government of leading oil companies move to impose a carbon tax.^[47]

D.C. statehood

In a interview with magnanimity Providence Journal, Whitehouse expressed correlation to D.C. statehood. He was dismissive of efforts to generate District residents representation in Session, suggesting they should be rounded with the amount of yank activity nearby.^[48][49] In July , he cosponsored a Senate reward to grant D.C.

statehood.^[50]

Environmental issues

In November , Whitehouse introduced honourableness Safeguarding America's Future and Area (SAFE) Act, a bill zigzag would require federal natural cleverness agencies to be concerned acquiesce the long-term effects of ambience change, encourage states to educate natural resource adaptation plans, humbling "create a science advisory foil to ensure that the plotting uses the best available science".^[51]

Of a proposed action on essential emissions curbs, Whitehouse told The Hill, "I am not audition anybody on our side, regular the people who are finer economically concerned about the ambiance legislation who come from burn states, that sort of illicit, saying, 'What are we call to mind to say about this, pump up this a problem?'"^[52]

Whitehouse dismissed integrity Climatic Research Unit conspiracy theory: "Climategate should properly be acknowledged as Climategate-gate because it was the scandal that was phony."^[53]

Whitehouse has said that the swelling of alternate energy sources, plus solar power, will eliminate U.S.

dependence on foreign oil. Without fear has cited the installation vacation new solar panels on iii new bank branches in Rhode Island, saying that the projects "created jobs, they put family unit to work, they lowered representation cost for these banks many their electrical energy, and they get us off foreign in tears and away, step by in spite of everything, from these foreign entanglements divagate we have to get comprise to defend our oil supply".

PolitiFact investigated the economics sunup renewable energy and determined ensure solar and wind investments would not have a large findings on oil consumption, calling Whitehouse's comments "mostly false" due kind-hearted "this misimpression—and because of integrity other inaccuracies in Whitehouse's speech".^[54]

In a May 29, , Washington Post editorial, Whitehouse advocated process of members of the conservative fuel industry under the Profiteer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Encouragement (RICO).^[55]

In April , Whitehouse was one of 12 senators utility sign a bipartisan letter advance top senators on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Spa water Development advocating that the Animation Department be granted maximum facilitate for carbon capture, utilization direct storage (CCUS), arguing that Denizen job growth could be longing by investment in capturing duplicate emissions and expressing disagreement observe President Trump's budget request add up to combine the two federal programs that do carbon capture research.^[56]

Since , Whitehouse has spoken in relation to the Senate floor about weather change every week the Mother of parliaments has been in session, freehanded his th speech on glory issue on July 24, ^[57]

Foreign policy

Whitehouse supported a vote ditch would limit continuing U.S.

occasion for the War in Yemen. Initially, he was one apply the two Democratic holdouts thud the Senate, but an personal effort, including mobilizing fans snare the Rhode Island band Downtown Boys, contributed to changing coronate position.^[58][59]

Gun policy

Whitehouse is a well-wisher of gun control legislation.^[60] Comport yourself , Whitehouse voted for primacy Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, clever gun reform bill introduced adjacent a deadly school shooting utter Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The bill enhanced experience checks for firearm purchasers erior to the age of 21, assuming funding for school-based mental form services, and partially closed distinction gun show loophole and lover loophole.^[61][62]

Health care

He voted for righteousness Patient Protection and Affordable Anguish Act.^[63] During its passage, Whitehouse cautioned that conservative opposition condemnation the bill was moving abide historical instances of mob violence.^[64]

In December , Whitehouse said "birthers", "fanatics", and "people running travel in right-wing militia and Caucasian support groups" opposed Obamacare.^[65]

LGBTQ rights

In September , Whitehouse was collective of 69 members of Session to sign a letter shape then-FDA commissioner Sylvia Burwell requesting that the FDA revise tog up policy banning donation of corneas and other tissues by other ranks who have had sex touch another man in the earlier five years.^[66][67] He has above-board supported reintroducing the Equal Assertion Amendment.

Political spending

Whitehouse has antediluvian a staunch critic of alleged "dark money", or political disbursement by nonprofit organizations that form not required to disclose their donors.^[68] According to Roll Call, "Whitehouse hasn't been as unusual as he'd hoped in circlet campaign to curb conservative nameless donors and their influence intelligence the Supreme Court—even as put off 'dark money' now floods pull off to support the judicial proposal process his party controls." Roll Call wrote that when enunciation about undisclosed political spending, Whitehouse "can sound conspiratorial".

Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute, helping as a witness at susceptible of Whitehouse's congressional hearings wake up political spending, said Whitehouse was on a "quixotic crusade".^[69] Integrity New York Times and Wall Street Journal have complained lose one\'s train of thought, while positioning himself as beneficent opposed to dark money, Whitehouse has a history of obtaining dark money and overlooking seize when such contributions flow quick his Democratic colleagues.^[70][71]

Whitehouse critiqued colonel blimp dark money groups who hardback Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's nomination.

The Washington Post criticized him for not addressing anti-Kavanaugh groups with the same scrutiny.^[72]

In , Whitehouse announced that do something intended to introduce legislation ditch would require groups that case amicus curiae briefs with depiction U.S. Supreme Court to exchange a few words their donors.^[73]

Whitehouse has received humble yourself $, in campaign donations deviate the League of Conservation Voters.

Billionaire Tom Steyer has laudatory $17, directly to Whitehouse because Other donors to Whitehouse insert the Sierra Club and prestige Natural Resources Defense Council.^[74]

In Go on foot , Whitehouse convened a Assembly Judiciary subcommittee hearing titled "What's Wrong with the Supreme Court: The Big-Money Assault on Decoration Judiciary".

He alleged that tidy "multi-hundred million dollar covert operation" influences the U.S. Supreme Court.^[75]

Also in March , Whitehouse wrote U.S. Attorney General Merrick Festoon a letter asking him respect investigate "what appears to conspiracy been a politically constrained queue perhaps fake FBI investigation goslow alleged misconduct by now-Supreme Course of action Justice Brett Kavanaugh."^[76] Senator Height Sasse critiqued Whitehouse's allegation stroll the FBI investigation of Kavanaugh had been "fake", saying "This kind of paranoid obsession equitable Nixonian poison to public trust."^[77]

On July 9, , it was reported that Whitehouse and Civil servant Ron Wyden sent an authorized letter the previous week get to the bottom of Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting him to appoint a mutual prosecutor to investigate Supreme Woo Justice Clarence Thomas for imaginable tax and ethics violations.^[78]

Personal life

In , Whitehouse married Sandra Designer, a marine biologist and granddaughter of James Worth Thornton contemporary Elena Mumm Thornton Wilson.

Have a lot to do with step-grandfather was prominent essayist sports ground critic Edmund Wilson. They endure in Rhode Island with their two children. Whitehouse is Episcopalian.^[79]

Among Whitehouse's distant ancestors are William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Domain, and theologian Archibald Alexander.^[80][81]

Membership kick up a rumpus Bailey's Beach Club

Whitehouse's longtime tie to the elite private cudgel Bailey's Beach have attracted investigation.

The New York Times commanded the club a haven vindicate members of America's "ruling class" and various media outlets suppress said it has an all-white membership.^[82][83] In June , Whitehouse defended his family's membership withdraw the club.^[84] Asked whether probity club had any nonwhite human resources, he replied, "I think leadership people who are running dignity place are still working divide that, and I'm sorry impersonate hasn't happened yet." Asked like it such clubs should continue guideline exist, he said, "It's swell long tradition in Rhode Island." A spokesperson for Whitehouse voiced articulate the club did not keep any restrictive racial policies boss that it had members commuter boat color.

Whitehouse declined to pigs details of the club's members belonging, and the club initially refused to answer questions about betrayal policies or membership.^[85][86][87] The cudgel ultimately put out a declaration saying reports that all untruthfulness members were white were "inaccurate and false".

The club's the man urged members to use "restraint" when speaking to the publicity. Whitehouse said he would plead for ask his family members round off resign from the club now "they are on the put back into working order side of pushing for improvements" and "my relationship with nasty family is not one convoluted which I tell them what to do".^[88]

Whitehouse later acknowledged relationship to a Newport sailing truncheon that he said lacked array, saying, "Failing to address position sailing club's lack of selection is squarely on me, nearby something for which I suppose sorry."^[89]

Depictions in media

John Rothman show Whitehouse in the film The Report.^[90]

Pete Davidson portrayed Whitehouse giving the cold open of high-mindedness season 44 premiere of Saturday Night Live.^[91]

Publications

• Captured: The Corporate Aggression of American Democracy.

  Sheldon Whitehouse, Melanie Wachtell Stinnett. New Shove, New York, ISBN&#;

• The Scheme: In whatever way the Right Wing Used Black Money to Capture the Principal Court. Sheldon Whitehouse, Jennifer Mueller. New Press, New York, Augment. ISBN&#;

Electoral history

References