His. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamTrump announces new legal dismissal team after reported departures. 5 lawyers leave Trump’s removal team before trial: Biden reports that the fight for immigration will resume in Congress MORE (RS.C.) on Monday rejected a Democratic request to schedule a confirmation hearing for next week Merrick Garland
Democrats weigh in on lower courts after Trump blitz Biden begins staffing committee to study Supreme Court reform: A report from more than 40 lawmakers sign a letter urging Merrick Garland to prioritize abolition of death penalty MORE, President Biden’s choice to be Attorney General.
Although Democrats have a majority in the Senate, Graham remains the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee because the House has not yet passed an organizational resolution for the 117th Congress.
That means Senate panels continue to operate under last year’s configuration, in which Republicans had the majority.
Graham’s letter comes after the senator. Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin: Progressives push for controversial budget reconciliation proposal. Democrats weigh in on lower courts after Trump blitz Biden revives fight for immigration in Congress MORE (D-Ill.), The chairman of the incoming committee, urged him to schedule a hearing for Feb. 8, arguing that there was “simply no justification” for not scheduling it and hinting that backstage talks they were at a standstill.
But Graham, in his own letter, said Garland should have a two-day hearing and pointed to the next impeachment trial, which would begin next week, as a barrier.
“The Senate is about to carry out its first trial of removal against a former president and only its fourth trial against a president, incumbent or not. According to the procedure adopted by the Senate, Donald Trump
Donald TrumpBiden reverses Trump’s last-minute freeze attempt .4 billion programs Trump announces new legal dismissal team after reported departures as Republicans shoot to unify toward next election cycle MOREThe trial is set to begin on February 9. But you want us to go through Judge Garland’s hearing on February 8th. A dismissal is no small thing. It requires the full focus of the Senate, ”Graham wrote.
He added that Democrats “fail to get political points” through the impeachment trial while “also trying to claim the mantle of good government.” Graham also noted that the committee lacks Garland’s documentation.
Under a pre-trial agreement reached by Senate leadership, Trump’s impeachment trial will begin as soon as Feb. 9. Democrats hope to be able to pass legislation and confirm nominations in the morning and hold the trial in the afternoon, but Republicans have warned they will do so to prevent that from happening.
“I am looking forward to questioning Judge Garland and supporting his candidacy, but not on Feb. 8. The government requires compensation,” Graham said.
It is unclear when the Senate will approve a power-sharing agreement that sets out how a uniformly divided chamber will work.
Senate leaders indicated they were close to a deal last week after unleashing a fight over the legislative filibuster, but the Senate adjourned the weekend without voting on a deal.
His. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders: The president has changed, but Washington has not helped Biden keep the president open to talks on the COVID-19 relief program on Sundays: COVID-19 service dominates MORE (I-Vt.), Who is about to become chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he told MSNBC which could pass the Senate on Tuesday. Spokesman for the Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer: Congressional Democrats are on the wrong side of the impeachment policy. Capitol’s permanent fencing proposal causes bipartisan setback Immigration reform can’t wait MORE (DN.Y.) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The showdown between Graham and Durbin is not the first time Garland has encountered roadblocks from Senate Republicans.
In 2016, Senate Republicans, who had a majority at the time, refused to give Garland a hearing or a vote on his nomination to the Supreme Court, citing the upcoming presidential election.
In 2020, Senate Republicans set a new record for the next presidential election that has been confirmed by a Supreme Court candidate when they qualified for Justice Amy Coney Barrett
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Once Garland’s nomination is on the Senate floor, Democrats can confirm it in the face of Republican Party objections.
Durbin, in his letter, warned that if Graham refused to hold a hearing on Feb. 8, he could try to speed up Garland’s confirmation.
“While I hope we can proceed bipartisanly, I am willing to take further steps to expedite the Senate’s consideration of Judge Garland’s nomination in case his hearing does not go ahead on Feb. 8,” Durbin wrote.