Posted on 11/28/2018 4:47:53 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced Wednesday that he is canceling votes on nearly two dozen of President Trump’s judicial nominees that were expected to come up in the Judiciary Committee this week.
The cancellation of the committee’s Thursday business meeting comes as Senate Republicans are in a standoff with outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has vowed to oppose all court picks until he gets a vote on legislation protecting special counsel Robert Mueller.
The notification from the Judiciary Committee didn’t specify when, or if, the committee votes on the nominations would be rescheduled. Six circuit court nominees had been expected to get a vote, as well as 15 district court nominees.
But Grassley warned late Wednesday afternoon that he would likely cancel the meeting unless he could get a deal with Flake that would allow the nominations to move forward.
“We haven’t cancelled the meeting yet,” Grassley said roughly an hour before the announcement. “If we don’t get a positive out of it, we’ll probably cancel the meeting.”
Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate allowing them to move Trump's nominees despite Flake as long as the remaining 50 Republican senators remain united.
But on the Judiciary Committee Republicans are limited to a 11-10 majority meaning they need Flake's support unless they can get help from Democrats.
"We can vote on all the people who cleared the committee," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the No. 2 Republican senator and member of the Judiciary Committee. "But in terms of getting a vote out of committee we need his help."
Flake reiterated earlier Wednesday that he remains committed to opposing nominees until he gets a vote on the Mueller protection bill. He tried to get consent to schedule a vote on the bill Wednesday but was blocked by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who warned that the legislation was unconstitutional.
The resolution, which cleared the Judiciary Committee earlier this year, would protect Mueller, or any other special counsel, in the event he is fired, but the bill has stalled amid opposition from GOP leadership.
The bill would codify Justice Department regulations that say only a senior department official could fire Mueller or another special counsel.
It would give a special counsel an "expedited review" of their firing. If a court determines that it wasn't for "good cause," the special counsel would be reinstated.
SPJNK.
Yep...This whole thing is over his hatred for President Trump, he’s like a spoiled teenager that’s told no and will do anything for retribution.
Might as well just wait until the POS is gone, and the new Senate is in session. I hope Flake has a very unmerry Christmas and New Year.
A man without a Party, holding a one-way ticket to Palookaville.
This clown should be booted from the committee. He’s gone in january. Even if he goes over to the Rats, it’s still 51-50 with Pence. They could replace him on the committee and still keep it 11-10 with a real conservative in there.
Just vote in January, screw this little girl.
IOW, they will suddenly (re)discover that Marshall in M vs M preemptively carved out rights & privileges for the court that simply don't exist. A dem president will simply declare the court non-democratic and challenge them to assert their power. With a uni-party Congress overtly supporting open borders, they won't have one iota of interest in pulling back the power of the executive. And so a conservative court won't matter when the rules are made by those unbridled by any institutional checks.
Which is why Trump needs to act now, because time is running out to defeat the deep state.
Just like McCain.
Not much difference.
NC Judge who supports voter ID made it today.
Flake was quashed by Pence.
What an obnoxious, arrogant POS. Flake can’t be gone soon enough.
Due to the fact that democrats are fleeing to Arizona from the socialist utopia of California and then voting for the same socialist crap that drove them out of California.
Doormat O’Connell???
He’s been busting his ass getting Trump’s judicial nominees confirmed.
The vote still has to come before the full Senate.
If I remember correctly, the Republicans on the floor can change the committee rules.
“It’s now 53-47.”
Not till Jan. 20.
kneecap him mitch...
BINGO! - Turtle could dump him any time.
Flake lives in my town, at least for now....I will be on the lookout for him. He will be getting a big piece of my mind when I spot him.
Flake... it’s way past time for you to leave! Please. Now.
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