Senate Democrats have been unable to temporarily replace Senator Dianne Feinstein on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles, as Republicans have blocked the request. Democrats had hoped to replace Feinstein in order to advance stalled judicial nominations, but Feinstein's return date is still unclear. In the meantime, Democrats will have to find another way to move forward with stalled judicial nominations.
Posts tagged as “The Senate Judiciary Committee”
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin has expressed outrage over the revelation that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has received gifts and luxury travel from a Republican donor, prompting a debate among Senate Democrats over the need for a hearing on Supreme Court ethics. However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to help Democrats temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she is ill, effectively blocking any hopes of pushing through judicial nominations.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a resolution this week to temporarily replace Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the Senate Judiciary Committee due to her absence from Washington since March. The resolution, which requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass, would be the first time in the Senate's history that a senator has been temporarily replaced on a committee. Feinstein has been a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 1993 and an advocate for civil rights, immigration reform, and gun control.
Lawmakers are returning to the Capitol to face a lengthy to-do list, including the looming debt limit crisis and the fallout from a leak of highly classified Pentagon documents. Republicans are pushing for spending cuts to be included in any debt ceiling deal, while Democrats are hoping to avoid a drawn-out battle over Senator Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) resignation due to her lengthy absence from the Senate. It remains to be seen how lawmakers will be able to address both issues in the coming weeks, as it is essential that both sides come together to reach an agreement that will prevent further damage to the economy.
Mitch McConnell is set to return to the Senate on Monday to decide whether to remove Dianne Feinstein from the Senate Judiciary Committee, a decision which could have major implications for President Biden's plans and the 2022 Senate race. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has defended Feinstein's ability to serve in the Senate, saying that a senator should be able to make their own judgments about when they're retiring. McConnell's decision is expected soon.
A new report from ProPublica has revealed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to properly report gifts from a billionaire benefactor, Harlan Crow, involving the sale of three properties in Savannah, Georgia. In response, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has called on the body overseeing the federal judiciary to refer Justice Thomas to the Department of Justice for investigation. Ethics law experts have noted that Thomas’ failure to report the sale of the properties appears to be a violation of the law, and the consequences of this violation remain unclear.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has requested to be temporarily replaced on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles. She expressed her understanding that her absence could delay the important work of the committee, and asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to allow another Democratic senator to serve until she is able to resume her duties. Feinstein has served on the committee since 1993 and is the most senior Democrat on the committee.
Prominent progressives are calling for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to resign or step down from her post on the Senate Judiciary Committee due to her lengthy absence due to health issues. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) argued that not speaking out about Feinstein's resignation "undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people," and that while Feinstein has had a lifetime of public service, "it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties." Feinstein has yet to comment on the calls for her resignation, and it remains to be seen if she will step down or continue to serve in the Senate.