Judiciary Committee Oks Williams U.S. Attorney Nomination
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, on a 12-10 vote, has advanced the U.S. Attorney nomination of Phil Williams, Jr. for the Northern District of Alabama to a vote in the full senate.
The Huntsville Grisson High, University of South Alabama and Birmingham School of Law graduate was an attorney who managed Williams, King & Associates, before it merged with Long & Associates. His name is more commonly associated as a conservative talk show host with Rightside Media which he founded with the Alabama Policy Institute (API) with the start of Rightside Radio.
An Army Reserve Colonel, he was a decorated Airborne Ranger with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service on the Army staff in the Pentagon.
Williams served in the Alabama Senate from 2010 until 2018, representing the 10th district counties of Etowah and Cherokee. Since leaving the legislature, Williams has served as a policy director for API and hosted his conservative talk program.
It was Williams rightwing political stance on his talk show that brought opposition from Democrats during his congressional committee hearing. Ranking Democrat Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, objected to Williams’ nomination. He claimed William's lack of prosecution experience should disqualify him as a candidate.
“Mr. Williams’ main qualification appears to be his podcast and social media posts in which he spouts MAGA orthodoxy,” Durbin told the confirmation hearing. He went on to point out that Williams has attempted to "whitewash" the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by MAGA loyalist, calling their prosecution being “like the Salem witch trials."
"Mr. Williams is not fit to be a U.S. Attorney," Durbin added.
However, both of Alabama's Republican senators defended William's 2025 nomination by President Trump. Committee member Senator Katie Britt stated, "“I do think it’s important to note that Mr. Williams has been publicly and consistently clear that violence, including the violence on January 6, is unacceptable.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville has said he believes Williams "will do an excellent job serving our state and our country as U.S. Attorney".
After the committee passed his nomination to a full senate vote, Williams thanked President Trump for his confidence in appointing him and added, "“The rule of law is the cornerstone of a free society, and the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to make sure that justice is applied fairly and consistently,” He vowed to do that.
If confirmed, Williams will oversee federal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the Department of Justice. The Northern District covers 31 counties, including Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and walker counties in West Alabama.
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