ACLJ Says DOJ Memo Backing Obama’s “Recess Appointments” Too Late and a Smokescreen

"It should come as no surprise that President Obama's Justice Department produced a memo that is designed to justify the unconstitutional appointments," said Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsel

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2012—The Department of Justice released a memo today backing President Obama's "recess appointments" - a document the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) says is legally flawed and nothing more than a "smokescreen" to provide cover for the President's unconstitutional actions.

"It should come as no surprise that President Obama's Justice Department produced a memo that is designed to justify the unconstitutional appointments made while the Senate was in session," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ.

"The fact is that this memo, dated two days after the appointments were made, provides a faulty legal analysis and is nothing but a smokescreen to provide cover for actions that are not only troubling, but violate the separation of powers," said Sekulow. "This memo changes nothing. President Obama acted in an unconstitutional manner in making these appointments, ignoring the rule of law and nearly a century of precedent."

In less than one week, the ACLJ has heard from 55,000 Americans who are opposed to President Obama's actions and are demanding that these appointments be retracted. The ACLJ has produced a detailed legal analysis underscoring the fact that President Obama acted outside the Constitution in making these appointments.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington.

-30-