Republicans Advance Emil Bove Nomination After Democrats Walk Out

Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12–0 on Thursday to advance the nomination of Emil Bove, former personal attorney to Donald Trump, for a lifetime seat on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The vote was held after every Democratic senator on the panel walked out, objecting to Chairman Chuck Grassley’s decision to proceed while debate was still under way. The confrontation began when Sen. Cory Booker pressed Grassley to delay the vote, calling the rushed timetable “wrong” and “unbelievable.” Grassley declined and opened the roll call as Booker continued speaking, prompting Democrats to leave the hearing room. After casting their votes, Republicans also approved former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, again without Democratic participation. Grassley said the episode was “no different” from past instances in which the minority party curtailed debate, insisting the committee had to “move things along.” Democrats countered that Bove’s work for Trump and his stance on immigration cases required closer scrutiny. Both nominations now go to the full Senate, where Republicans hold a majority and could schedule confirmation votes as early as next week.