Merrick Garland denied a speedy confirmation hearing before impeachment trial

The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected a request from the incoming Democratic chairman to hold a quick hearing for President Biden’s attorney general nominee, Merrick Garland, punting the potential confirmation until after the impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, the outgoing committee leader, responded to a letter from Sen. Dick Durbin, who will soon lead the panel but hasn’t taken the reins yet because a power-sharing agreement in the evenly divided Senate has not yet been formalized, telling the Illinois Democrat that a quick one-day confirmation hearing next Monday before the Senate trial begins on Tuesday is not acceptable.