[FreeReign]

Because he needed two of them to be present on the Committee, if what he's saying is correct, then he basically tricked them to get them to show up, as all of the Rats were prepared to sit it out. I'm not sure that's what really happened, but it's an interesting theory.

My first thought on this theory is that that Article I section 5 of the Constitution requires just 51 senators to be present to conduct business.

Without even looking at the Senate rules, I would think that 51 senators are capable of changing any self-determined Senate rules, such has a minority requirement rule.

What am I missing?

[Alberta's Child]

They wouldn't bother changing the rules. The Senate does not have to rely on any committee to conduct its business. McConnell could have scheduled a vote on the matter without having any input from the Judiciary Committee at all.

This works better politically for the GOP, though.