Senator J.D. Vance is Holding the DOJ Hostage

1. What’s happening?

Last week, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance announced he will block 🛑 all of President Biden’s nominees to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Vance urged lawmakers to “grind the Department of Justice to a halt.”

2. Why is Senator Vance stalling nominations? 

It’s in response to the 37-count federal indictment brought against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents and then trying to cover it up.

Vance’s attack on the DOJ is an act of revenge for the department holding Donald Trump accountable for the crimes he potentially committed.

3. How will Senator Vance stall nominations?

Senator J.D. Vance will have to stall on the Senate floor through “procedural holds.”

It only takes one Senator issuing a “hold” to drastically slow down the process. Vance’s hold will force the Senate to spend valuable time on floor votes for all nominees rather than approving noncontroversial nominations through unanimous consent, the common and much more efficient practice.

4. What’s at stake?

Many non-controversial nominations will be stalled, as Vance plans to block all DOJ nominees, except U.S. marshals.

Rosie Hidalgo is awaiting confirmation to be Director of the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women. The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) works to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Confirmations of U.S. attorney nominees for:

• Mississippi, 
• the Southern District of California, 
• and the Northern District of Ohio will also be stalled.

This political ploy leaves key positions vacant and prevents the government from conducting the people’s business.

5. What’s being said?

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted that, “Trump’s Republican allies are again holding up critical federal law enforcement officers — who prosecute violent crime, terrorism, and crimes against children — from being quickly confirmed.”

“We have work to do in the Senate,” Durbin said. “Stopping the business of government is not one of our jobs.”

6. What’s the solution?

One Senator should not be able to hold our government hostage.

That’s why we support Senator Amy Klobachur’s resolution to “speed up the bulk confirmation process and allow for approval by a majority vote.”

This rule change would allow up to ten nominees at a time to be approved with a simple majority vote (51 of 100 senators). This would not apply to Supreme Court Justices, circuit court judges, and cabinet secretaries.

“This commonsense reform will help improve efficiency and make sure we’re able to fill positions that are vital to our national security, economic success, and more,” said Senator Amy Klobachur.

Add your name if you agree that one Senator should not be able to hold our government hostage.