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WASHINGTON – The White House criticized Senate Republicans on Tuesday for refusing to go along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s request to temporarily replace her on a powerful committee that processes President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees.
Republicans were wrong to refuse the California Democrat’s request to temporarily remove her from the Senate Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
“We think this is a reasonable request,” she said.
Jean-Pierre accused Republicans of seeking to score a “partisan advantage” from a colleague’s illness.
“The American people reject that kind of scorched-earth behavior or approach to governing,” she said.
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Feinstein, who at 89 is the Senate’s oldest member, has been absent since February and has not indicated when she will return. Her delayed absence has stalled some of Biden’s judicial nominees, and members of her own party have started calling for her resignation.
Last week, Feinstein asked Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to find a temporary substitute for her on the committee, a move that would end the stalemate and allow Democrats to continue the process of approving Biden’s nominees.
But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who returned to the Senate on Monday after a nearly six-week absence after falling and suffering a concussion, said Republicans aren’t interested in helping Democrats replace Feinstein. McConnell said there is no urgency to find a substitute for Feinstein and accused Democrats of trying to “ram through” a small number of appointments to the federal bench.
Asked about the impact of the GOP’s refusal to go along with Feinstein’s request, Jean-Pierre said getting the nominees confirmed remains a top priority for the administration.
“Senators should not needlessly deny community judges who can ensure accountability for criminal acts,” she said.
Michael Collins and Joey Garrison cover the White House. Follow Collins on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS and Garrison @joeygarrison.
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