Republicans questioned associate attorney general nominee Vanita Gupta during a hearing Tuesday over her record of partisan attacks. In her opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee Gupta said she would work to uphold the Constitution and not any partisan agenda. “If confirmed, I will aggressively ensure that the Justice Department is independent of partisan influence,” she said. “That independence is part of a long tradition, and it is vital to the fair administration of justice and preserving the public’s trust and confidence in our legal system.” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) questioned Gupta about her positions on abortion, gun rights, and religious liberty; all issues Cruz said Gupta had taken strong ideological stances on in the past. “As I look at your record on every single issue, the positions you’ve advocated for are on the extreme left,” said Cruz. Gupta did not answer Cruz’s question directly, but rather made general statements about …