The office of Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley moved proactively Monday to defend the Senate Judiciary chairman’s record of approving judicial nominees ahead of what is expected to be a week of Democratic attacks.
“The continued attacks against Senator Grassley’s record on nominations as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee are unfounded and based on political rhetoric from paid political operatives and an increasingly desperate minority,” a spokesperson for the Iowa senator said in a statement late Monday.
The move comes as Senate Republicans have refused to consider President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland for the vacated ninth seat following Antonin Scalia’s February death.
But the senator’s attempt to get ahead of the curve does not directly hit on Garland. Instead it defends his overall record as chairman when it comes to giving judicial nominees a hearing.
Under Grassley’s leadership since in the 114th Congress, the committee has held 43 hearings for judicial nominations in those 16 months as his predecessor, Democratic Sen. Pat Leahy, did during the same time frame in the 110th Congress.
Grassley’s office further defended his leadership record, pointing to the 74 committee and subcommittee hearings the panel has had and 27 bills it has sent to the floor.
“For that matter, compare the 324 judicial confirmations of President Obama’s to the 303 judicial confirmations of President Bush’s at this same point. To say that President Obama hasn’t been treated fairly during his presidency isn’t based in reality,” the top aide added.
A total of 326 judges were approved by the Senate during George W. Bush’s two terms in office.
