In response to reports that Senator Charles Grassley plans to schedule a hearing on the nomination of David Stras to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals despite the fact that he did not have blue slips from both home state senators, PFAW Executive Vice President Marge Baker issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision is one that will define Charles Grassley’s legacy. Instead of keeping his word and continuing a longstanding Senate practice based on comity and respect, Grassley broke his word of honor to Senator Leahy, brushed aside years of his own statements in support of the blue slip process and buckled to the demands of Senator McConnell to turn the Senate Judiciary Committee into a rubber stamp for Donald Trump.
“Senators from both parties have used the blue slip process to demand meaningful consultation when it comes to choosing nominees for their own states. And Republicans used blue slips for years to block President Obama’s nominees for the flimsiest reasons.
“Simply put, this was a test of Charles Grassley’s moral character. He failed.”
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and defend constitutional values including free expression, religious liberty, equal justice under the law, and the right to meaningfully participate in our democracy.
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