(TheConservativeTimes.org) – Tuesday evening, April 18 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s bid to temporarily replace Senator Dianne Feinstein’s, D. Calif. on the Judiciary Committee was blocked.
Schumer expressed hope on Tuesday during a press conference that Feinstein would be back to the senate floor soon, but didn’t offer any details or possible timeframe for her return.
Schumer had this to offer, “I spoke to Senator Feinstein just last Friday. She and I are very hopeful she will return soon.”
Senator Feinstein has been absent from her role since early in March of this year. She’s being treated at a San Francisco hospital for shingles.
During a recent press conference on the matter, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made accusations that Republicans were attempting to take advantage of the 89 year old lawmaker by opposing Schumer’s request.
“It is flat wrong to seek partisan advantage from health issues of a colleague. Right. The American people reject that kind of scorched earth type of behavior, approach to governing. Again, this is something that she put forward and this was her request. So I’ll leave it there,” Jean-Pierre remarked.
Calls for Senator Feinstein to resign after such a protracted absence from her duties have come from both sides of the aisle in Congress.
With The request now blocked the outcome could be a significant obstacle for Democrats’ ability to confirm federal judges. Chair of the judiciary panel, Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin, has delayed the committee’s votes on lifetime appointees during Fienstein’s absence.
Judiciary Committee members such as Sens. Tom Cotton, R. Ark, Marsha Blackburn, R. Tenn, John Cornyn, R. Texas, and Thom Tillis, R. NC stand united in opposition to replacing Feinstein on the committee citing the apparent goal of Democrats to confirm liberal judicial nominees.
It’s worth noting that the push to replace Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee is the only committee assignment, among others she holds, that is in the sights of those that wish to see her replaced.
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