Her. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham Trump Announces New Legal Team For Impeachment After Reported Departure, 5 Lawyers Leave Trump Impeachment Team Ahead of Trial: Reports Biden Reviving Immigration Fight in Congress MORE (RS.C.) on Monday turned down a Democratic request to schedule a confirmation hearing next week Merrick Garland
Merrick Brian Garland Democrats weigh in on expansion of lower courts after Trump blitz Biden begins staff committee to study Supreme Court reform: report Over 40 lawmakers sign letter asking Merrick Garland to prioritize abolition of the death penalty MORE, President Biden’s choice to become Attorney General.
Although the Democrats hold the majority of the Senate, Graham is still the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as the chamber has not yet passed an organizing resolution for the 117th Congress.
That means the Senate panels are still operating according to last year’s stance – in which Republicans had the majority.
Graham’s letter comes after Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin Progressives Urge Controversial Budget Reconciliation Proposal to Democrats as Lower Courts Expand after Trump blitz Biden revived the immigration fight in Congress. (D-Ill.), The new committee chairman, urged him to schedule a hearing for February 8, arguing that there was “just no justification” for not planning it, hinting that the behind-the-scenes talks reached an impasse.
But Graham said in his own letter that Garland should have a two-day hearing and pointed to the impending impeachment proceedings, which would begin next week, as a roadblock.
The Senate is about to conduct its first-ever impeachment trial against a former president, and only its fourth trial against a president, sitting or otherwise. According to the procedure passed by the Senate, Donald Trump
Donald Trump Biden reverses Trump’s last-minute attempt to freeze 0.4 billion programsThe trial will begin on February 9. But you want us to go through Judge Garland’s hearing on Feb. 8. An accusation is no small matter. It requires the full attention of the Senate, ”Graham wrote.
He added that Democrats “do not score political points” through the impeachment process while also “trying to claim the mantle of good governance.” Graham also noted that the committee lacks Garland’s paperwork.
Under a tentative deal reached by the Senate leadership, Trump’s impeachment process begins on Feb. 9. Democrats hope to pass legislation in the morning and confirm nominations and hold the trial in the afternoon, but Republicans have warned they will. block that from happening.
“I look forward to questioning Judge Garland and possibly supporting his nomination, but not on Feb. 8. Governance requires compromises,” said Graham.
It’s unclear when the Senate will pass a power-sharing agreement laying down how an evenly distributed chamber will operate.
Senate leaders indicated they were close to a deal last week after defending a fight against the legislature, but the senate was postponed for the weekend without voting on a deal.
Her. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders The President Has Changed But Washington Doesn’t Have Biden Assistant Signal President Is Open To Talks About COVID-19 Relief Sunday Shows – COVID-19 Relief Dominates MORE (I-Vt.), Who is about to become chairman of the Senate Budgets Committee, told MSNBC that it could pass the Senate Tuesday. Spokesmen for the leader of the majority of the senate Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer Congressional Democrats On The Wrong Side Of Impeachment Politics Permanent Capitol Fencing Proposal Leads To Bipartisan Pushback Immigration Reform Can’t Wait ANY MORE (DN.Y.) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The standoff between Graham and Durbin isn’t the first time Garland has encountered roadblocks from Senate Republicans.
In 2016, Senate Republicans, who held the majority at the time, refused to give Garland a hearing or vote for his nomination to the Supreme Court, citing the impending presidential election.
In 2020 Senate Republicans Set New Record For How Close To A Presidential Election A Supreme Court Candidate Is Confirmed When They Post Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Amy Coney Barrett Democrats weigh in on expansion of lower courts after Trump blitz South Carolina Senate votes to ban most abortions in state Biden Begins Staff Committee to Study Supreme Court Reform: Report MORE on the couch.
Once Garland’s nomination is on the Senate floor, Democrats can confirm him over the GOP’s objections.
Durbin warned in his letter that if Graham refused to host a February 8 hearing, he could try to speed up Garland’s confirmation.
“While I hope we can move forward in a twofold way, I am ready to take other steps to expedite the Senate’s handling of Judge Garland’s nomination if his February 8 hearing is canceled,” Durbin wrote.