Senate Republicans say they’ll block Democrats’ makes an attempt to quickly change Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee amid a chronic medical absence, dealing a blow to President Biden’s judicial nominations.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a member of GOP management and the judiciary panel, stated Republicans will withhold the help wanted for Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer to quickly appoint one other Democrat to the panel.
“I know the entire Senate joins me in wishing her a quick recovery and a speedy return. But given the tight margins in this chamber, her absence has created some complications for Sen. Schumer within the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which I serve,” Mr. Cornyn stated. “Republicans are not going to break the precedent in order to bail out Sen. Schumer or the Biden administration’s most controversial nominees.”
Without Ms. Feinstein, the Judiciary Committee is deadlocked with 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats, leaving in limbo a number of of Mr. Biden’s appointees to the federal bench who should not have GOP help. About 10 nominees have bipartisan help and 4 haven’t any GOP help, in accordance with Republican management aides.
Democratic leaders haven’t responded to questions as to why they haven’t voted on the nominees who can advance and not using a clear Democratic majority.
Pressure is rising on Ms. Feinstein to retire.
The California Democrat isn’t searching for reelection subsequent yr however deliberate to serve out her time period. She has been absent for weeks following a shingles analysis in February that required hospitalization. Last week, Ms. Feinstein in a press release stated she requested Mr. Schumer to sub in one other Democrat on the committee till she has recovered sufficient to return to the Capitol.
Ms. Feinstein has not indicated when she plans to return.
At 89 years outdated, Ms. Feinstein has held the seat for greater than 30 years. But questions have mounted in recent times over her cognitive well being.
Temporarily changing her on the Judiciary Committee would require unanimous consent of your complete Senate or, in a flooring vote, the help of 10 Republicans.
“The idea is to remove her from the committee for an unspecified period of time, name a replacement and then reinstate Sen. Feinstein when she returns. This is — it turns out — unprecedented,” Mr. Cornyn stated. “Over the years, senators from both sides … have needed time away due to various health issues. Never — not once — have we allowed temporary substitutes on committees, and now is not the time to start.”
Other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, together with Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, stated they received’t approve a substitute.
Ms. Blackburn steered it was a scheme by Mr. Schumer to “pack the court with activist judges.”
“Joe Biden wants the Senate to rubber stamp his unqualified and controversial judges to radically transform America,” she wrote in a tweet.
Mr. Schumer instructed reporters Monday that he spoke with Ms. Feinstein inside the previous few days and that she plans to “return soon.”
“I am hopeful she’s going to return soon,” the New York Democrat stated. “We should have a temporary replacement until she does. I hope the Republicans will join us in making sure this happens. It’s the only right and fair thing to do.”
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