Here's Why Trump's Ukraine Strategy Is Better Than Biden's
JD Vance Didn't Hold Back on Bolton, Ukraine, and Crime in This Interview
Armed and Deployed: Trump’s National Guard Crackdown in D.C. Sends Clear Warning to...
Nine Days, Zero Murders: Trump’s D.C. Crackdown Delivers Results
Arizona Charges 170 in Immigration Sweep
CNN Admits the Brutal Truth: Democrats Are Bleeding Voters
Trump Will Send Troops to Baltimore if It Needs Help
Chinese Scammer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison
DeSantis Defends Removal of Rainbow LGBT Crosswalk
Boston Cops Defy Left-Wing Mayor Michelle Wu, Secretly Aid ICE in Arresting Criminal...
Vivek Ramaswamy Surges Ahead in Ohio Governor's Race
FBI's 'Summer Heat' Initiative Under Trump to Make the U.S. Safe Again
California’s Homeless Crisis: Two Decades of Empty Promises Under Newsom’s Watch
When Envy Becomes a Political Weapon
Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s Muscle Showdown Falls Flat as Social Media Roasts His Bench...
Tipsheet

Feinstein's Absence Doesn't Just Hurt Liberal Judges, It Helps Protect Conservative Ones

Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool

Sen. Dianne Feinsten's (D-CA) absence has put Democrats in a tight spot when it comes to confirming judicial nominees, though, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reminded on Tuesday from the Senate floor, this applies to "the small fraction of their nominees who are so extreme, so extreme, and so unqualified, that they cannot win a single Republican vote in committee." Her absence not only threatens those particularly liberal nominees, it also helps protect conservative justices. 

Advertisement

In her coverage of the position Democrats find themselves in, Sister Toldjah at our sister site of RedState shared an NBC News report detailing how majority members want to hold a hearing looking into Justice Clarence Thomas over financial disclosures, which he is amending. This comes after a ProPublica report published last week that has been heavily criticized

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, is quoted discussing what steps the committee can take, and has "a number of things in mind." Expecting Justice Thomas to testify isn't something he's hopeful about though. "Of course, I would like to, but I don’t think it’s going to happen," he said when asked about speaking with the justice directly. 

That's looking even less likely given Feinstein's absence, "out of the question" even, and so it's going to have to be on Chief Justice John Roberts:

A Democratic aide noted that issuing a subpoena would require a majority vote by the committee, which the party doesn’t have with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., out indefinitely on medical leave. “So that option is out of the question,” the aide said.

Durbin said Democrats are putting the onus on Chief Justice John Roberts to “accept the responsibility of the court” to investigate Thomas’ conduct and make “a change in approach on ethics.”

Advertisement

Republicans seem even less likely to go along with subpoenaing Thomas than they do helping Democrats name Feinstein's replacement on the committee. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had looked to name Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) to fill the role by unanimous consent, but was formally blocked by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who serves as ranking member on the committee. 

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has been particularly outspoken over Twitter about defending Justice Thomas. 

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) tweeted his support as well. Both are members of the committee.

Advertisement

It's also worth remembering that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is on the committee, who is often ranting and raving about the Court. He's given numerous speeches about it, in fact, as he just did for nearly 25 minutes on Tuesday.


Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement