Cnn
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The Republicans officially blocked a request from the head of the majority of the Senate, Chuck Schumer, to temporarily replace Senator Dianne Feinstein in the Judicial Committee, which the Democrats hoped to do to advance judicial appointments in standby.
The Democrats of the Senate seek to temporarily replace Feinstein on the powerful panel which deals with the judicial candidates because the Californian democrat remains absent, recovering from Zona.
The Senate Republicans, however, clearly indicated that they had been ready to block democratic efforts to replace Feinstein to the Committee, increasing pressure on the 89 -year -old Californian democrat to resign or come back quickly.
Feinstein’s return date is not yet clear and it asked last week to be “temporarily” replaced by the committee while it recovers.
Schumer presented his motion on Tuesday by speaking of his friendship with Feinstein and highlighting his achievements.
“Today, I play not only as a leader, but as Imi de Dianne, honoring her wishes, until she returned to the Senate,” said Schumer.
GOP Lindsey Graham, the first Republican of the Senate Judicial Committee, opposed Schumer’s request, although he also praised the Californian Democrat. He argued that Schumer’s decision was to confirm more judges.
“She is an expensive friend and we hope her rapid recovery and return to the Senate. With all the respect I owe you, my colleague, Senator Schumer, it is a handful of judges for which you cannot get the votes,” said Graham.
Democrats could always force a vote to replace the Feinstein, but that would require the support of 10 Republicans and it is unlikely that they use a lot of valuable floor time for something with little chances of success.
Feinstein, who has already announced that she did not ask for a re -election, initially declared that she expected to return to Washington “at the end of the March work period”, but that her return was “delayed due to continuous complications linked to my diagnosis”.
She recently declared that she planned to come back “as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it was sure for me to travel.”
Cardin told CNN on Tuesday that he had discussed with Schumer that the temporary replacement of the committee, but that he had not discussed the decision with Feinstein.
The Maryland Democrat said that he and Feinstein had not spoken since she was out of the Senate and that it was her understanding that it was only a temporary decision until her return.
“I recognize the importance of committee figures, and in this way, we can be able to carry out business. I consider it a way to manage a current situation,” said Cardin.
Democrats would need 60 votes to replace Feinstein in the panel, but the main republicans in the direction and the committee clearly indicated on Monday that they would not give them the votes to do so. If Feinstein does not come back soon, at least 12 nominees, or perhaps even more, could be blocked.
If the Democrats are unable to replace Feinstein or if it does not return to Washington soon, they could see the main articles on the agenda – both in the Committee and in the Senate.
When asked if the California Democrat should consider resigning if she could not return by May, Schumer replied that he was “hopeful” that she will return “very soon”.
“Listen, I spoke to Senator Feinstein just a few days ago and she and I hope that she will come back very soon,” said Schumer at his weekly political press conference at the American Capitol.
Feinstein announced in February that it would not present itself to re -election, and a certain number of democrats have already launched campaigns for its headquarters in 2024 in what promises to be a competitive primary.
Many Democrats in the Congress have largely remained favorable to her decision to remain in office when she was absent from the Capitol when she recovers from the zona.
But Feinstein faced calls to resign from two Democrats in the House – and if the Democrats are unable to replace it on the committee, this number could start to grow.
The Senate’s judicial president Dick Durbin recently recognized in CNN that the absence of Feinstein had slowed down the party’s push to confirm the candidates. But Durbin has ceased to call Feinstein to resign, saying that he hopes that the Republicans will help to temporarily replace her in the Committee and to recognize that “the rain can fall on both sides of the road”.
When asked if his absence had longer ramifications for the ability of the Democrats to confirm the candidates, the Democrat of the Illinois said: “Yes, of course”, highlighting the long process of obtaining candidates planned for votes during the precious time.
Republican senator John Cornyn, principal member of the judicial committee and advisor close to McConnell, told CNN that he opposes the effort to replace the feinstein on the panel.
“I do not think the Republicans can or should help the most controversial candidates of President Biden,” said the Texas Republican. “I maintain that senator Feinstein returns as soon as she can. But this effort to confirm controversial candidates and in many cases, largely unskilled, I do not think you can expect republican cooperation. ”
This story has been updated with additional information.
