Cotton to block Garland’s quick confirmation to lead Biden DOJ
Cotton said that Garland refused “to answer basic questions†in his written answers on immigration, the death penalty and guns.
By MARIANNE LEVINE
03/04/2021 11:43 AM EST
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) will slow down the confirmation of Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Justice.
In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, Cotton said that Garland refused “to answer basic questions†in his written answers on immigration, the death penalty and guns.
“Ensuring the Senate has time to debate these issues and get answers is the same thing that Senate Democrats did for Bill Barr,†Cotton wrote. “We’re not going to have one standard for Trump’s nominees and another for Biden’s.â€
The hold that Cotton has placed on Garland’s nomination means that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will need to clear a procedural hurdle before a final confirmation vote. Democrats had hoped that Republicans would agree to skip that step, particularly given that several of them — including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — plan to support the nominee.
But with Cotton blocking an agreement and the Senate’s focus on passing Biden’s coronavirus relief package, a final confirmation vote on Garland is expected to occur next week at the earliest.
more
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/04/cotton-garland-block-quick-confirmation-473637
