Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says he supports an effort to stonewall the Trump administration’s not-yet-announced FBI director nominee by refusing a confirmation vote until a special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, has led the charge. Warner says he finds it “very disturbing” that Trump would fire the head of the FBI, James Comey, during its probe into the Trump campaign’s potential ties to Russia. Now he has the support of Schumer, the highest ranking Democrat in the Senate.
When asked about it on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Schumer said there are “a lot of Democrats” who support Warner’s effort.
Schumer said “I would support that move” but Democrats will have to discuss it as a group.
Despite this “broad support,” Schumer hopes for, and needs, some Republican backing to make the Democrats’ efforts effective.
There are currently 52 Republicans in the Senate, 46 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. If Republicans unite behind a Trump pick to head the FBI, Democrats will have no way to block consideration of the nominee because in 2013 the then-Democratic-led Senate went through with the “nuclear option” on executive branch nominees. This altered the rules to require only a simple majority of 51 senators, instead of 60, to overcome a filibuster.
Still, Schumer believes there are enough Republicans who prioritize country over party.
“We’re hoping, we’re waiting, we understand it’s difficult, but I think patriotism and the needs of this country demand it,” he said.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the number of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.
