Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the Senate’s president professional tempore and chairman of the highly effective Judiciary Committee, stated he was “offended” and “disillusioned” by the tirade President Trump unleashed against him on social media over the obscure Senate custom of respecting blue-slip objections to nominees tapped to function district court docket judges and U.S. attorneys.
“Final night time I used to be stunned to see President Trump on Reality Social go after me and Senate Republicans over what we name the blue slip,” Grassley stated in a press release to open a Judiciary Committee listening to on nominations.
“I used to be offended by what the president stated, and I’m disillusioned it will end in private insults,” he stated.
Trump reposted an merchandise on Reality Social calling for time period limits and to “dethrone the kings.” The publish famous that Grassley has served in Congress for greater than 50 years, whereas Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has served in Congress for 44 years and former Senate GOP Chief Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has served for greater than 40 years.
The president additionally reposted a Reality Social publish that accused Grassley of being a “RINO,” quick for “Republican in title solely,” and “sneaky.”
Trump vented his frustration at Grassley over his resolution to respect blue-slip objections from Democratic senators who oppose candidates nominated to function district court docket judges and U.S. attorneys of their states.
“Chuck Grassley, who I received re-elected to the U.S. Senate when he was down, by so much, within the Nice State of Iowa, may remedy the “Blue Slip” drawback we’re having with respect to the appointment of Extremely Certified Judges and U.S. Attorneys, with a mere flick of the pen,” Trump posted on Reality Social.
“Democrats like Schumer, Warner, Kaine, Booker, Schiff, and others, SLEAZEBAGS ALL, have an ironclad stoppage of Nice Republican Candidates,” Trump fumed, referring to objections to nominees from the Senate Democratic chief and Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-V.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
Historically, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s chairs haven’t proceeded on federal district-level judicial and prosecutorial nominees until each senators representing the state the place these districts are positioned return blue-slip paperwork signing off on the nominees.
Different Republicans backed Grassley in pushing again in opposition to Trump’s criticism.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, stated it will be a mistake to do away with blue-slip objections from home-state senators to district court-level nominees.
“I don’t agree with the president on that. I perceive his frustration. President Biden had the identical frustration,” Kennedy stated of Trump’s anger over stalled nominees to key law-enforcement positions in Democratic states.
“It’s a cherished and really wanted Senate custom,” he stated.
“Notably for district court docket judges, senators are significantly better capable of … decide a lawyer from their group that satisfies group requirements,” Kennedy stated, noting that Republicans additionally profit from having oversight over judges and federal prosecutors of their states.