Senator Jeff Flake Holds Up Judicial Nominee Britt Grant
Roll Call is reporting that Arizona Senator Jeff Flake (R) is holding up 11th Circuit Court nominee Britt Grant of Georgia. Why? He’s not saying publicly, but it sounds like it has nothing to do with Grant herself. It’s no secret that Senator Flake never boarded the Trump Train, so his resistance to anything or anyone associated or nominated by President Donald Trump isn’t shocking.
Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson confronted his colleague about the issue saying it was irresponsible use of Senate privilege to block Grant. From Roll Call:
Isakson said he believes in using the hold only when it’s absolutely essential. “I went and confronted him and said I really needed him to let her go. She’s a terrific judge,” he said. “[Flake] has no reason for her not to go forward.”
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) gave positive remarks on Grant and her nomination, but never called for a vote. Chairman Grassley said that his staff indicated that they didn’t have the votes to proceed last week, but Grant’s nomination could be up for a vote later week as she is on the agenda for the Committee.
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nsmith
Father. IT Geek. Former 14th District GOP Chairman (2015-2017). Former Walker GOP Chairman (2009-2013). Resident of Chamblee. American. Georgian. Conservative.
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Republicans held up how many dozens (IIRC hundreds) of Obama-era nominees did Republicans hold up?
*yawns*
Tell Garland to get back to work at the office of Gary Martin Hayes…
Nathan this post is unfair. I am no fan of Jeff Flake, but the guy has supported all of the president’s judicial – and Cabinet – nominees such far, including Gorsuch. So this: “It’s no secret that Senator Flake never boarded the Trump Train, so his resistance to anything or anyone associated or nominated by President Donald Trump isn’t shocking” is out of line. It is 180 degrees in opposition to the facts and sounds like something that would be produced by Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit, or Fox News after the new ownership (as opposed to their earlier days when they actually could have been fairly called a conservative-leaning news outfit, a role that is now alone being filled by the Washington Times, but even following them requires ignoring who their owners actually are).
There is some sort of behind-the-scenes politicking and power struggle going on in the Senate Republican Conference and Grant is caught in the middle as a pawn. It is regrettable, but we all know that at best it will only delay her inevitable confirmation (which makes her a perfect pawn as she is not from a state that has a Democrat at governor or U.S. Senator … Georgia is a deep red state which means that her confirmation isn’t in jeopardy in the least). Claiming that Flake is doing this as part of some “resistance” against Trump, knowing how important the judges issue is to the GOP base, is truly unfair. And again, I write this as someone who can’t stand the guy.
To encapsulate: Just because we don’t know the reason doesn’t mean there is no reason. And just because we don’t know the reason doesn’t mean he should be branded with a scarlet letter. It may wind up being raw vindictiveness, but it is more likely some sort of log rolling.
Did Isakson manage to keep a straight face when he mouthed those platitudes?
Could it possibly have something to do with pressuring the administration to stop stealing babies at the border? Flake is on record as opposing that, to his credit.