[Tallguy]

Committee rules require that two members of the minority party to be present for business to be conducted. However, chairman Lindsey Graham proceeded with the vote anyway. “We’re not going to allow [Democrats] to take over the committee,” he stated.

That's the thing about committee rules... you have to BE THERE to object to the violations. Deny a quorum by not sending at least one observer, and you're handing the Republicans an opportunity. And even our shakey leader -- Lindsay Graham -- recognized it and took it.

[CA Conservative]

“That’s the thing about committee rules... you have to BE THERE to object to the violations.”

And the rules of the Senate prevent them from raising a point of order on the floor to complain about the lack of a quorum in the committee when the nomination was approved. The rules state that as long as it was approved with a majority of senators present, no point of order will be permitted on the floor objecting to the nomination or bill being considered.