For A Third Time, Senate Republican Blocks Durbin's Attempt To Confirm U.S. Attorney Nominations On The Senate Floor
Floor Speech
"Two days ago I came to the floor to request unanimous consent for the Senate to take up and confirm four pending U.S. Attorney nominations that were being held up by one United States Senator, the junior Senator from Ohio, Senator Vance," Durbin said. "And two days ago he said, "my position is we should have a full Senate vote on each of these Justice Department nominees.' He also said, "if it is so important to confirm these folks, bring them to the floor for a vote.' But now, that is exactly what he is attempting to prevent today.
For decades, the Senate confirmed U.S. Attorney nominees of both political parties by voice vote or unanimous consent in the Senate after they have been reported by the Judiciary Committee. Before the beginning of the Biden Administration, the Senate had not required a roll call vote in confirmation of a U.S. Attorney since 1975, almost 50 years. In fact, during the Trump Administration, Senate Democrats allowed every one of Trump's U.S. Attorney nominees, all 85, to move through the committee and be confirmed by a voice vote or unanimous consent U.S. Attorneys are too important to be used as political pawns in a national debate. They lead our nation's effort to prosecute violent criminals. Don't tell me that you're for"law and order,' but you want to stop criminal prosecutors from being appointed to the job.
For the Senator to say "I will hold all DOJ nominations. We will grind the Justice Department to a halt,' really? That's your agenda? That's why you came to the Senate? If the Department of Defense is being ground to a halt because of the promotion of officers, and to do the same thing in the Department of Justice, and we're facing a government shutdown over MAGA members of the House of Representatives, the American people have a good picture, a good photograph of the future if we go down one particular path in terms of the future in politics in America."
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