Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has postponed Thursday’s meeting, when several judicial nominees were due to be considered.
On Monday, Grassley said the Senate Judiciary Committee would hold a Thursday hearing that included the consideration of many judicial nominees — including six appeals court nominees.
But Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., has fefused to vote for President Trump’s nominees until the Senate considers a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by Trump. Senate Republicans have blocked that bill.
Flake’s vote is critical because the committee is made up of 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats, and a “no” vote from Flake makes it impossible to approve any of Trump’s picks as long as Democrats vote together.
A Flake spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on whether the lawmaker will push for the Mueller legislation to be voted on this week.
