Freshman Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has come out in fierce opposition to President Trump's judicial nominee Brett Talley, a 36-year-old who has never tried a case and only practiced law for a total of three years. Kennedy told reporters Tuesday that he would vote against Talley "in a heartbeat — twice, if I can," Politico reports.
Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a lifetime appointment of Talley, a former ghost hunter. While Kennedy had supported Talley there, it was later reported that the nominee had failed to disclose that he is married to Ann Donaldson, who serves as chief of staff to White House counsel Don McGahn and is apparently a person of interest in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible obstruction of justice by Trump.
"I had no idea his connection," said Kennedy. "And he's never tried a lawsuit in his natural life. And he's gonna be on the federal bench? Give me a break. A break. It is embarrassing. And I think the president of the United States is getting some very, very bad advice."
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Kennedy is the first Republican senator to take a stand against any of Trump's nominees, having also voted against Gregory Katsas on Tuesday. Nevertheless, as Ryan Cooper writes at The Week, Trump's major success so far in office has been nominating judges. Read why that could eventually backfire for the GOP here.
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