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Senator Dick DurbinD-Ill. used his opening remarks at the Senate’s first judicial candidate hearing on Wednesday on the year, reminding him that he has at least one of President Donald Trump’s candidates in his colleagues.
“We got one candidate from Florida,” Durbin said. “I spoke to both Florida senators about it. It’s not personal. We have to find a way out of this from now on, being fair and bipartisan, where we stick to for both parties.”
Durbin, a top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is blocking Trump’s choice to lead the US lawyers’ office in the Southern District of Florida, Jason Redding Kinnons. Durbin recently threatened to further interfere with Trump’s choice, in order to lead DOJ’s 93 US law firm.
Durbin’s threat loomed at a committee hearing featuring five Trump candidates to meet the federal judge position. The Illinois Democrats have attributed his lockdown to Vice President JD Vance, who announced his DOJ candidate in 2023. Vance, who was then a Senator, said he would not lift a candidate until then General Merrick Garland stopped “behind his political antagonists.”
Sen. Dick Durbin: Federal government closure punishes Americans every day
Senator Dick Durbin will speak at the 2024 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Senators have the authority to use holds to oppose nominations. This practice significantly delays the confirmation process as it prevents senators from voting for candidates through the typical rapid, unanimous consent process.
Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyR-Iowa said on Wednesday, like Durbin, that he was too opposed to Vance’s decision, but Grassley was particularly different from Durbin’s decision.
“This is not something that could legally call the precedent for blanket blockage at the start of the administration before even one of these 93 US lawyers is satisfied,” Grassley said.
Grassley, who has hampered candidates in past administrations, said the hold should be used “selectively” and that Durbin last told Congress that “public security will suffer all over the United States” if interference with US lawyers were to occur.
Senator Chuck Grassley of the US Capitol on September 24, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, Getty Images)
Durbin said Vance had changed the rules “overnight.”
“And what do you guess? The table rotates,” Durbin said. “It’s time for you to move these with audio voting. As Democrats, we’re going to follow the Vance precedent.”
Durbin, who has a friendly relationship with Grassley, shows he is willing to negotiate with Republicans over a Florida candidate.
When asked what the resolution would look like by Fox News Digital, a Durbin spokesperson pointed to what the senator said during the hearing and declined to comment further.
Durbin’s hold is not the only obstacle for Trump’s candidate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerDn.Y., from the Senate floor on Wednesday, said Republicans wanted to “quietly rubber stamp” Patrick Davis’ nomination, and he wouldn’t allow it.
Senate minority leaders Chuck Schumer and President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Trump appointed Davis, a former Grassley aide, and served as the attorney general of the Legislative Bureau, responsible for the DOJ’s response to Congress. Schumer said the DOJ opposed Davis’ nomination because he had not responded to his inquiry about the controversial luxury plane Qatar gave to the Trump administration.
“They don’t even answer any serious questions about this. This plane should be withdrawn,” Schumer said.
He added, “This Justice Department, as it is, is not as scary as it is political and destroys American values.”
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Grassley responded to Schumer with X: “Why do Democrats expect a response to Congress from the DOJ when they block Trump’s candidates who are responsible for answering their LTTR????”
The last two Senate-certified directors of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs between the Biden administration and the first Trump administration were confirmed through a quick voice voting process.
