Irony isn’t dead. Not according to the recent actions of freshman senator J.D. Vance, a Yale Law alumnus, who found himself embarked on an effort to block the nominations of four U.S. attorneys last week. It’s an action that appears to be more of a bid to align himself with the far-right and display his allegiance to Donald Trump, rather than a genuine grievance with the nominees themselves. In fact, Vance readily admits he has no issue with the qualifications of the nominees. His actions, it seems, are misdirected criticisms targeting the federal indictments facing the former president—or in right-wing parlance, the possible “politicization” of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The attorney nominations in question were for Mississippi, California, Illinois, and Ohio. These had been brought to the Senate floor under unanimous consent given each nominee was seen as non-controversial. Even the nominee from Vance’s home state of Ohio, to whom Vance had assured the Judiciary Committee of his support, found his nomination blocked by Vance in his effort to act as the frontline of this new political stage.
This act of political showmanship wasn’t without its critics. Senate majority whip Dick Durbin was quick to highlight the flaws of Vance’s ploy, raising concerns about its implications for public safety. As reported by Law360, Durbin emphasized that Vance’s objections were without a “principal basis” and pointed to the increased risk this posed to many American families.
Vance fired back, stating that he would continue to block all DOJ nominations in light of the indictments against Trump. Interestingly, Vance does not place the blame with any criminal actions allegedly committed by the former president, choosing instead to accuse Joe Biden—despite the independence of the special counsel—of using the DOJ for selective prosecution.
Nonetheless, Durbin offered a rebuttal that simultaneously emphasized Biden’s respect for the Justice Department’s independence and painted a contrasting portrayal of Trump’s use of the DOJ as a “personal law firm”.
In the meantime, though, the impact of this political tug-of-war leaves the nominees unable to begin their work.
More on this can be read at Above The Law.