Senate Republicans said they would block Democrats’ plans to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from illness.
Judiciary is the committee that approves federal judges. Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently acknowledged that Feinstein’s absence had slowed down Democrats’ efforts to confirm President Biden’s nominees.
Feinstein last week requested to be “temporarily” replaced on the Judiciary Committee while the 89-year-old recovers from a bout of shingles.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer then said he’d ask the chamber this week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on Judiciary while she recuperates.
On Tuesday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—himself just returned to Congress after a six-week medical recovery—said in a speech on the Senate floor, “Senate Republicans will not take part in sidelining a temporarily absent colleague off a committee just so Democrats can force through their very worst nominees.”
Feinstein’s absence reduces Democrats’ narrow majority in the chamber by one to 50-49. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on Sunday warned that Democrats could need that vote on critical issues like the debt ceiling.
