Schumer wants to replace Feinstein on Judiciary Committee temporarily ‘sometime this week’
Samantha-Jo Roth
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he would like to move forward with a resolution to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the Judiciary Committee temporarily sometime this week but provided few other details during a press conference with reporters on Monday.
“We would like to do it sometime this week. It’s only fair. It’s the only right thing to do,” Schumer said.
REPLACING FEINSTEIN TEMPORARILY ON SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MAY BE UPHILL CLIMB FOR DEMOCRATS
Democrats want to attempt to replace Feinstein temporarily since she has been away recovering from shingles since March 7. The senior California senator has faced criticism from her colleagues, with some calling on her to resign last week after her prolonged absence continued to cause delays for President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees. In response, both Feinstein and Schumer suggested they were attempting to find a temporary replacement on the Judiciary Committee.
“She’s hopeful on returning soon. We think Republicans should allow a temporary replacement until she returns,” Schumer said, neglecting to give a timeline on when exactly the California senator plans on returning to Capitol Hill.
Swapping out the California senator’s membership on the Judiciary Committee is looking like an uphill battle. Schumer must propose amending the chamber’s organizing resolution, which could require consent from all 100 senators. If any senator decides to block unanimous consent, there would need to be 60 votes to break a filibuster.
At least 10 Republicans would need to support the measure. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a member of the Judiciary Committee, announced she would not vote to replace Feinstein in a tweet on Monday. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) also signaled he would not help Democrats fill the vacancy.
Schumer said he needs to speak with his Democratic caucus about who he proposes to replace her, dodging a question from the Washington Examiner. He also said he had not yet spoken with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) about the situation but plans to soon.
“I am hopeful she’s going to return soon. We should have a temporary replacement until she does, and we will try. We hope Republicans will join us in that,” Schumer said.
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Democrats have been successful at pushing through Biden’s judiciary nominations. At the two-year mark, Biden clinched 100 nominations, eclipsing former President Donald Trump‘s 85 and former President Barack Obama’s 67. But Feinstein’s health-related absence has ground that progress to a halt. Her diagnosis has caused her to miss 58 Senate votes and has paralyzed the Judiciary Committee.
“There has never been this kind of stonewalling of Republican nominees who are qualified, who have good credentials, etc. So, I’m very surprised. I’m very upset with Republicans in terms of that,” Schumer said.