Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee raged against Chairman Dick Durbin Thursday after he refused a third debate on two of President Biden’s judicial nominees, leading one senior GOP lawmaker to say Durbin had “just destroyed one of the most important committees in the United States Senate.”
As a roll call vote got underway, senators on the Republican side warned that Durbin’s steamrolling would be remembered.
“You’re gonna have a lot of consequences coming if you go down this road. I’ve cautioned a lot of you,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told his Democratic colleagues.
Durbin briefly defended his push for the roll call vote on the nominees, arguing that the GOP had already had two opportunities to opine on the picks.
“You’re telling us to shut up? You want us to shut up?” fumed Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Ranking member Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), typically the committee’s most collegial member, pleaded with Durbin that his fellow Republicans hadn’t gotten to speak on the nominees and “wanna tell you again why these nominees are awful.”
Dick Durbin grew quiet and occasionally told Republicans that a roll call was ongoing. C-SPANDurbin largely ignored the Republicans as their anger grow.
“Is your plan to end all debate? Do you have an answer or are you going to rely on someone whispering in your ear?” Cotton asked.
“I guess Senator Durbin isn’t going to allow women to speak either. I thought that was sacrosanct in your party,” Cotton chided at one point after Blackburn declined to answer the roll call.
The typically mild-mannered John Cornyn let loose on Dick Durbin. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesFinally, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) lost his temper with Durbin.
“Mr. Chairman, you just destroyed one of the most important committees in the United States Senate,” he said.
“You have set a precedent which will be repeated every time one party or the other takes advantage and takes the low road – it sets a precedent that will then become the norm. Congratulations on destroying the United States Senate Judiciary Committee.”
Tom Cotton warned that what goes around comes around. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesThursday’s meeting was expected to be contentious after Durbin teased plans to issue subpoenas to Dallas-based real estate guru and GOP donor Harlan Crow, and Federalist Society co-chairman Leonard Leo.
Both Crow and Leo are at the center of an ethics storm surrounding the Supreme Court, centering on Crow’s gift of luxury trips to Justice Clarence Thomas and Leo’s assistance to former President Donald Trump in selecting his three nominees.
“I’m only seeking subpoenas for two people who have refused to comply with this committee’s oversight request for months,” Durbin explained ahead of the hearing, complaining that Republicans had prepared dozens of amendments to the summons request.
Lindsey Graham had been helping the Democrats get through less partisan picks in the past. But on Thursday, he was livid at what Dick Durbin did. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesWhen asked for comment on the Republican uproar, Durbin’s team referred The Post to a comment he made on the subpoena vote.
“Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats’ goal all along has been to ensure that like all other federal judges, Supreme Court justices are bound by an enforceable code of conduct,” Durbin said in a statement.
Crow’s office blasted the Senate Judiciary Committee in response.
“The Judiciary Committee Democrats’ violation of the Committee’s own rules to issue an invalid subpoena further demonstrates the unlawful and partisan nature of this investigation,” his office said.
“Mr. Crow remains willing to engage with the Committee in good faith, just as he has consistently done throughout this process,” his office added. “So far, Committee Democrats have been dismissive of Mr. Crow’s good faith offer and unwilling to engage in constructive dialogue.”
Democrats have been approving Biden’s judicial picks at a rapid clip. Earlier this month, the president scored the 150th judicial confirmation of his administration.
By comparison, former President Donald Trump managed to lock down 234 judicial appointments during his four-year term in office.






