J.D. Vance helps nominee navigate Senate
In “Special Report,” Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram examines the vice president-elect's efforts to counter potential obstacles in Congress to some of President-elect Donald Trump's administration nominees.
Senate Republicans came under fire this week for several absent votes, with each absent Republican member agreeing to approve judges or end debate on nominees in their absence. was completed.
One particularly important vote was Monday's vote on lifetime appointments to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court is a coveted appellate court slot, but Democrats have not had the votes to confirm President Biden's nominee since outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (Idaho, Va.) voted to do so. Ta. against.
However, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) did not vote, making the nomination a 49-45 vote.
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The Republican Senate's absence resulted in a judicial victory for Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer. (Reuters)
“If Republicans had been present, this left-wing judge would have been rejected and the critical 11th Circuit seat would have been filled by Donald Trump next year,” Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis told the X. I wrote this. Leftist judges will be appointed for life, and the people of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia will suffer the consequences. ”
“A senator's only job is to show up and vote,” Mike Davis (R-Iowa), chief nominating adviser to former Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, told Fox News Digital. .
“President Biden is blocking far-left judges from making lifetime appointments to federal courts after the American people voted for dramatic change. Senate Republicans are doing everything in their power to stop this lame-duck conveyor belt. But if these Senate Republicans can't even go to a vote, let alone debate for four hours on each judge, why should we vote for these ineffective senators? Is there one? ”
Davis is also the founder and president of the Article III Project.
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Mr. DeSantis criticized Republicans over the circuit court confirmation. (AP Photo/Charlie Neighborgal)
Senate leaders acknowledged to Fox News Digital that they were frustrated by the absence of their Republican conference colleagues. One of the most vocal voices on the issue was Sen. Thom Tillis, RN.C.
Vice President-elect Vance said in a statement: “As a co-chair of the transition, it is important that I focus on ensuring that President Trump's administration has sufficient talent who support America First policies and are ready.” said. It officially started on January 20th. ”
“But it's also important to me that we do everything we can to block the confirmation of more radical judges. So while it may be unconventional for the vice president-elect to get a Senate vote during a lame duck period, if “If my colleagues here, tell me we have a real chance of defeating one of these nominees in the Senate, I will move heaven and earth to get them on the ballot,” he added. Ta.
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In a separate statement, Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Brian Hughes said, “We cannot allow Chuck Schumer to play games with the next administration's ability to personnel during the transition period. “However, radical left-wing judges should not be allowed to interfere in the Senate.” It's the 11th hour, and we need the next vice president to move the transition ahead of schedule.”
Vance is notable for being the first senator in more than a century to vote on a judicial nomination after being elected vice president.
The vice president-elect was at the Capitol later in the week facilitating a meeting between senators and President Trump's picks for key administration positions.
Vance was present for Wednesday's key vote, but some Republican lawmakers were still absent.
A spokesperson for Daines pointed to Fox News Digital an x post from the senator in which Daines detailed a travel issue he encountered on his way to Washington, D.C. “Due to ice. The runway was closed, followed by prolonged de-icing, and then a medical emergency…''Delta flight attendants then arrived in Washington, D.C., at 10 p.m. and finished voting until midnight.'' .
Vance said he would “move heaven and earth” to get on the important vote. (Steven Maturen/Getty Images)
Daines' office said that once he finally arrived in the nation's capital, he immediately went to the Senate floor to vote.
Brown, Hagerty and Rubio's offices did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication. Mr. Rubio was recently selected by President Trump as his nominee for secretary of state.
The circuit court confirmation was the most important vote in which Republicans' absence helped move forward, but it wasn't the only one this week.
Brown, Hagerty, Vance, Rubio, and Sens. Kevin Cramer (R.N.D.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) were opposed by Manchin and no other Democrats voted in favor. Despite this, he was absent from Tuesday's vote on the district court nominees, which were ultimately approved. Enough votes.
Mr. Cruz was in Texas on the day of the vote on the SpaceX rocket launch with Mr. Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The senator, who will soon become chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, told reporters this week that the space bill “will be a very high priority across all committees.” .
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“My number one priority is jobs, and commercial space creates tens of thousands of jobs in Texas and across the country,” he said, referring to his visit to the launch.
Kramer's office did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
On Wednesday, Mr. Cruz and Mr. Brown missed confirmation as another district judge opposed by Mr. Manchin, delivering another accomplishment for House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Mr. Biden.
Brown also missed Wednesday's second vote on district judge, which was opposed by outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, which would have confirmed her nomination.
Mr. Brown has been elected the next governor of Indiana. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
On Wednesday, Tillis spoke on the subject on the Senate floor. “Mr. Schumer is going to attack Mr. Biden's liberal judicial nominees in a big way. We can stop some of them, but we need all the Republican senators here to do that. The Vice President (Mr. Vance) is a busy man right now, but he's still here on the Senate floor.'' This line should be followed by all of our Republican colleagues,'' he wrote to X.
The outgoing Indiana senator returned Wednesday night, but Republicans managed to reach an agreement with Schumer on more judge confirmation votes, in exchange for allowing votes on a number of district court judges without further stalling. Trump secured four valuable circuit court vacancies.
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One Republican senator told FOX News Digital that Senate Minority Leader John Thune, who was recently elected as the next Republican Senate majority leader, was pressuring absent senators such as Vance, Rubio and Brown. As a result, a final agreement was reached. With Schumer.
An acquaintance of Senate Republican leaders told Fox News Digital that Thune emphasized the importance of attending the Republican conference, especially regarding judicial confirmation votes.
