Thanks to Senate D's (Blumenthal, Durbin, Kim, Welch, Hirono, Schiff, Booker) for sharing concerns re: Trump's judicial nominees. No president who defies law and courts should be appointing more judges to federal courts, including Emile Bove whose loyalty is to Trump, not the law or the constitution
Senator Richard Blumenthal speaking on the Senate floor.
HAPPENING NOW: Senate Dems are speaking on the floor about Trump's judicial nominees. @blumenthal.senate.gov says they're discussing one of the most important decisions they're going to make with respect to the future of justice in America — the nomination of Emil Bove to serve on the Third Circuit.
Numerous, high-level judges and attorneys are standing by the whistleblower who says Emil Bove, Trump's judicial nominee to the 3rd Circuit, said DOJ should ignore court orders and tell the courts "F*** you."
More: www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Also at the presser the senators noted that both the Deputy AG and the AG were at the hearing which is very unusual. Sen. Blumenthal said they were sending a message to R’s to stay in line. He also said, it shows they are worried they might lose R votes.
Several D’s held a spontaneous presser outside of the hearing. They believe Bove may have perjured himself. They asked for a second round of questioning to give him a chance to clear up the record. They were denied.
Strong questioning by Schiff
. “Did you say tell court to fuck you? Bove: “ I don’t recall” Schiff is incredulous “isn’t that the kind of thing you would remember? Unless that’s something you say a lot”.
Strong questioning by Sen. Schiff. He asked Bove if he said in meeting to tell court to “fuck you”. Bove said “I don’t recall” Schiff says “isn’t that the kind of thing you would remember? Unless that’s something you say a lot”.
One of most important questions for Bove from Sen Booker: Where is the line? What would the president ask you to do that you wouldn’t do?
Amazing. Sen Blumenthal forcefully challenging Bove for not answering who in the White House he talked to about Mayor Adams prosecution. Sen Blumenthal charges that the nomination to third circuit was reward for doing the White House’s bidding.
Bove says concern was impact on Mayor Adams’ campaign. Sen. Klobuchar: “does that mean you can never prosecute any ejected official - even if they killed someone?Elected officials are always running for office.”
Sen Klobuchar in her questioning is very deftly calling into question Bove’s justifications for dismissing charges against Mayor Adams. His explanations don’t hold water.
Sen. Durbin is forcefully challenging Bove on firing of January 6th prosecutors. Bove trying to say the reason was that they were provisional employees, but Sen Durbin says it just doesn’t square with what Bove said.
Bove just sworn in right after Sen Booker said he should be testifying instead in oversight hearing about DOJ defying rule of law - not for hearing on his nomination to seat on third circuit. Booker also called for committee to hear from whistle blower.
Senator Booker is making it clear that as home state Senator he had enormous objections to Bove. No way the White House could have thought otherwise. Also making important point that the opposition to Bove is bipartisan!
Sen Grassley is trying to say concerns about Bove are about “ties” to the president. Let’s be clear: he’s been Trump’s enforcer. He does not have the integrity or independence to be a federal judge. As Sen. Durbin is saying he’s weaponized DOJ. And WSJ: he appears to be a “smash mouth partisan”
Senator Grassley is accusing the D’s of using “inappropriate” language about Bove. This about someone who wants to be federal circuit court judge, who according to a whistleblower, said DOJ attorneys should tell the court “fuck you” about obeying court’s order!
I am at what may be one of the most consequential hearings in recent times, on Emil Bove’s nomination to 3rd circuit. This is the former Trump criminal lawyer and collaborator w/Trump at DOJ on defying courts and politicizing DOJ. Wall Street Journal characterized Bove a “smash mouth partisan”
Raskin: You are not our king, and we are not your subjects. We will never be your subjects. All of us born here on this land are citizens and your executive order is nothing but bad graffiti on the Constitution, and we're going to wash it off today
A man holding a sign saying “No Kings” stands in front of tanks flying “Trump” flags, reminiscent of Tiananmen Squre
And cars and trucks too
No Kings Day protest in Bethesda MD. Old and young and in between
From the no Longs Day protest in Bethesda,MD. Old and young and in between, cars and trucks!!
Thank you Senator Durbin for your fight for fair courts.
Constituents to Chuck Grassley: "Are you bringing back that guy from El Salvador?"
Senior Citizen: “If I get an order to pay a ticket to pay $1200 and I just say ‘no’, does that stand up? Because he just got an order from the Supreme Court and he just said ‘screw it’”
“I’M PISSED!”
Just posted: A storm of dissent against MAGA is brewing into a hurricane
thehill.com/opinion/whit...
Good to see bipartisan oppo to R's anti-injunction bill. Rep Jayapal says it: “Here’s a message: if you don’t like the injunctions, don’t do illegal, unconstitutional stuff. Nationwide injunctions play an essential role in protecting our democracy and holding the political branches accountable.”
Law professor and constitutional scholar Raskin asks us all to read the steel seizure case. Probably a good idea but much more interesting to listen to Prof Raskin. Tell it!!!
Rep Raskin quoting Ben Franklin: “Make yourself a sheep and the wolves will eat you.” We have an anti-monarchical, anti-cruelty, anti- corruption constitution. We need to uphold those constitutional values.
In these truly challenging times, in the face of dangerous authoritarian threats, when it’s possible to feel hope slipping away, hearing from the brave souls who testified at today’s accountability hearings, keeps hope alive. Thank you to Senator Schiff and Rep Raskin for shining the light.
