Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asked unanimous consent Tuesday evening to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calf.) on the Judiciary Committee with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), saying he was making the request "not just as leader but as Dianne's friend." Senate Republicans said no. Feinstein, who has been absent since being hospitalized with shingles in February, requested the temporary replacement after facing pressure from some Democrats to give up her Judiciary seat or even resign.
Feinstein's absence has left the Judiciary Committee deadlocked, with an even number of Democrats and Republicans, meaning Democrats have been unable to advance about 15 judicial nominees to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote. Schumer can bring the resolution to temporarily replace Feinstein up for a vote, but Republicans appear to be in lockstep opposition to the maneuver so it would be unlikely to get the 10 GOP senators needed to overcome a filibuster.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
A running list of Trump's second-term national security controversiesIn Depth Several scandals surrounding national security have rocked the Trump administration
-
The tobacco industry could be the beneficiary of health agency cutsThe explainer Anti-tobacco initiatives could be up in smoke
-
The full moon calendar for every month.In depth When to see the lunar phenomenon every month
-
13 potential 2028 presidential candidates for both major partiesIn Depth A rare open primary for both parties has a large number of people considering a run for president
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cutsSpeed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deporteeSpeed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
-
DOGE: Have we passed 'peak Musk'?Feature The tech billionaire suffered a costly week after a $25 million election loss in Wisconsin and Tesla's largest sale drop on record
-
Why the GOP is nervous about Ken Paxton's Senate runToday's Big Question A MAGA-establishment battle with John Cornyn will be costly
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't lastSpeed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's ShapiroSpeed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia UniversitySpeed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
