Power division: Democrats won the Senate. See why they’re not in charge yet

Power division: Democrats won the Senate. See why they’re not in charge yet

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The impasse prevented Democrats from taking control of important committees, as the chamber is operating under the rules of the last Congress, when the Republican Party was in charge, delaying the consideration of appointed attorney general Merrick Garland, who is expected to receive bipartisan support. .
Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, rejected a Democratic request on Monday to schedule Garland’s confirmation hearing on February 8, arguing that the Senate needs to focus on former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial , which should start the next day.

The South Carolina Republican said in a letter that a “one-day hearing” was “insufficient” and noted that the attorney general’s previous nominees received two-day hearings.

“When the Senate’s focus is needed to consider whether to prevent a former president from being re-elected, other businesses must stop,” Graham wrote. “Proceeding with the confirmation of an attorney general and the impeachment of a former president at the same time would not give the necessary attention.”

Until Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer reach an agreement, Graham will continue to determine the panel’s schedule, rather than Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin. Party leaders can finalize an agreement as early as Tuesday; Graham said he guessed that he would be chairman of the Judiciary Committee for “another day or two”.

Negotiations were suspended for more than a week because of a disagreement over whether Democrats should or should not promise in writing that the obstruction would not explode. McConnell said he was no longer delaying the process after moderate Democrats, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona said they had no plans to vote to remove the obstruction anytime soon.

McConnell declined to comment on Tuesday. Durbin said party leaders are discussing some final points before finalizing the power-sharing deal that will officially allow Democrats to take the chair of important Senate committees. Democrats will have a 50-50 Senate majority because Vice President Kamala Harris has the power to tie votes in the House.

Durbin blamed McConnell for the assault and said he had “several options” to schedule Garland’s hearing. He declined to provide details.

“I don’t like any of them,” he said. “I think February 8 is the best and fairest way to do this.”

“I am sorry to say that Judge Merrick Garland, who is a wonderful man, will withdraw the trophy for misbehavior in the United States Senate,” he added, referring to how Garland’s appointment to the Supreme Court was ignored by the majority of Republican Party in the Senate in 2016.

Some Senate Republicans indicated that they would vote to confirm Garland, including McConnell, according to The New York Times.

Texas Senator John Cornyn, a Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that he wants to vote for Garland. He said he would support an “early” committee hearing and “encourage” Graham to schedule one.

“I would support an initial appointment for Merrick Garland,” said Cornyn. “I think he is not a politician, which is my number one criterion for the next attorney general.”

Graham said he liked Garland too.

“I will probably vote for him,” said the senator.

This story was updated with further developments on Tuesday.

CNN’s Chandelis Duster and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.

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