Republicans Wont Let Feinstein Off Easy

Dianne Feinstein, who has been absent for over a month with illness, requested a temporary replacement for herself on the Judiciary Committee. Senate Republicans have something to say about it.

Feinstein’s office initially said she would return to the Senate in “weeks” after leaving in early March with a case of the shingles.

However, after she announced “complications related to her diagnosis”, she requested that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer temporarily replace her position on the Judiciary Committee to allow Democrats to fast track Biden judges through the confirmation process.

Schumer said he would discuss her replacement with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell soon, but multiple GOP senators voiced opposition to assigning a replacement.

Senators Tom Cotton (R-AK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) all made public statements against making it easier for Democrats to confirm lifetime judges.

“Republicans are not going to break this precedent in order to bail out Sen. Schumer or the Biden administration’s most controversial nominees,” said Cornyn.

Many critics of the move pointed out that Democrats are only attempting to replace Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee of all her committee assignment, exposing their singular focus on pushing judges through.

McConnell has not made any comments one way or the other at this time.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) said Democrats are using the fight over her replacement as justification to pressure Feinstein to resign altogether.

Democrats also have not presented any potential replacements. Schumer said he would speak to the caucus about who might take her spot, but Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) appealed to Republicans to let the replacement go through.

“Tomorrow, this could happen to the Republicans and they could find themselves in a vulnerable position through no fault of their own,” he said. “And I hope that they’ll show a little kindness and caring for their colleagues.”