Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) continued to deliver on President Trump’s agenda and pushed nearly a dozen federal judge nominees as House Democrats pursued impeachment.
On Wednesday, the same day the country found itself wholly absorbed in the partisan impeachment effort in the House, McConnell “forced a deal with Democrats to expedite 11 federal district judge nominations,” per CNN:
McConnell’s thrust is emblematic of what he sees as his crowning achievement. So far, he has led the charge changing the landscape of the federal courts across the country with a record number of appellate court judges — currently at 50 — and Supreme Court nominees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
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McConnell had scheduled procedural votes on nominees coming roughly every two hours. Two votes were held Wednesday before the agreement was reached to speed things along with 11 consecutive votes in the late afternoon. Final votes to confirm the nominees have not yet been scheduled.
“In less than three years, President Trump has appointed and the Republican Senate has confirmed 50 circuit judges,” McConnell tweeted last week. “That is already the most in any president’s whole first term since 1980”:
In less than three years, President Trump has appointed and the Republican Senate has confirmed 50 circuit judges. That is already the most in any president’s whole first term since 1980. https://t.co/3Ns65gvCje pic.twitter.com/r0mZgunu7f
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) December 11, 2019
Vets torch Dem Senate hopeful who called Army ‘fat, lazy trash,’ mocked soldier shot four times
Omar confronted on camera over GOP proposal targeting foreign-born lawmakers: ‘Good luck to her’
GOP senators spurn anti-weaponization fund payout for phone data seizure: ‘I don’t need any compensation’
Operation Benjamin: Restoring fallen soldiers’ lost Stars of David
Baby pulled from vehicle trapped in raging floodwaters in dramatic rescue caught on video
Teen sailor killed aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor identified after 82 years through DNA analysis
Stampede erupts at South Carolina biker festival, 19 injured in late-night chaos
This Could Sink Mangione’s Defense: Judge Allows Notebook, Gun as Evidence
Appeals Court Puts Stake Through Heart of New York’s Anti-2nd Amendment ‘Vampire Rule’
Mosque Shooter Identified as Apparent Neo-Nazi with Hispanic Name
GOP Swing State Justices Sweep in Rare Midterm Setback for Democrats
Marine veteran and Boston firefighter dies after rescue efforts at massive house blaze
‘After your boy’: Hasan Piker lashes out over fed probe into Cuba trip
Officials say possible crack in unstable chemical tank may relieve pressure at aerospace plant
Retiring senator warns if Trump continues to do ‘stupid things’ it will kill GOP in November
“My motto for the remainder of this Congress is ‘leave no vacancy behind,’” McConnell reportedly told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday.
The House passed both articles of impeachment on Wednesday evening, with two Democrats, Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ), voting against the first article charging President Trump with abusing the office of the presidency. They, along with Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), also voted against the second article of impeachment, charging Trump with obstruction of Congress. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), arguably, delivered the biggest surprise of the evening by voting present for both articles.
“One may not always agree with my decision, but everyone should know that I will always do what I believe to be right for the country that I love,” she said in a statement.
“After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no,” she said.
“I also could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by tribal animosities that have so gravely divided our country,” she added.
McConnell is addressing what he calls the “House Democrats’ precedent-breaking impeachment of the President of the United States” on Thursday morning:
Vets torch Dem Senate hopeful who called Army ‘fat, lazy trash,’ mocked soldier shot four times
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Officials say possible crack in unstable chemical tank may relieve pressure at aerospace plant
Retiring senator warns if Trump continues to do ‘stupid things’ it will kill GOP in November
At 9:30am tomorrow morning, on the Senate floor, I will speak about House Democrats’ precedent-breaking impeachment of the President of the United States.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) December 19, 2019
Story cited here.
