The Senate confirmed President Trump’s nominee to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, John K. Bush, by a narrow 51-47 vote on Thursday.
Sens. John McCain of Arizona, who was been diagnosed with brain cancer this week, and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan did not vote.
Bush’s nomination came under scrutiny from both Democratic and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members because of pseudonymous blog posts he made providing political commentary and analysis of presidential politics. Last week, Bush’s nomination advanced out of the Judiciary Committee by an 11-9 vote.
Trump allies cheered Bush’s confirmation to the federal appeals court, while liberal groups criticized the newest addition to the 6th Circuit and said voters would remember their senators’ votes on the nomination. The 6th Circuit includes Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
“It is good to see Bush confirmed, but dozens of judicial nominees continue to languish in the Senate, where Senate Democrats continue to obstruct and delay,” said Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director of the right-leaning Judicial Crisis Network.
NARAL Pro-Choice America bashed Bush’s confirmation.
“John Bush’s anonymously published blog posts show that the Trump administration handpicked him to appease fringe elements of his base, individuals who share his agenda to roll back the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, and working people,” said Ilyse Hogue, NARAL Pro-Choice America president, in a statement after Bush’s confirmation. “At the polls in 2018, NARAL’s million-plus members won’t forget that Republican senators shoved through a nominee who so clearly lacks the temperament and judgment needed to serve on our courts.”
