Republicans won’t help Democrats replace Feinstein on Judiciary Committee

Senate Republicans will not help Democrats temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Feinstein is trying to recover from shingles and her absence is backing up the judicial nominee process.

Changing committee membership requires 60 votes. Republicans are accusing Democrats of trying to replace her so they can get liberal judges approved that do not have bipartisan support.

“Let’s be clear: 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,” Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said.

“This is all about four judges that they can’t get Republican votes for. There are 14 of them. I’ll vote for most of them. But no, I don’t think this is a good precedent for the Senate. I doubt if any Republican would do that. And I hope Senator Feinstein gets well and comes back soon,” committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.

Feinstein requested Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., put someone in her place until she can return. Schumer agreed to the request. Feinstein’s absence could be delaying over a dozen nominees.

“We’ll keep doing our work. But whether we can produce the nominees from the committee is really the challenge,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.

Feinstein sits on three of the most powerful committees in Congress: Judiciary, Intelligence and Appropriations. But she only wants to be removed from the Judiciary Committee and Republicans want an explanation.

“It makes no sense that if you’re going to be out on a long term basis why you would just seek an exception to one of three committees that are very important committees,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said.

Multiple Republicans indicated that they would be more willing to fill Feinstein’s seat if she retired because that would be a vacancy, not a temporary change.