President Trump is ramping up his criticism towards Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley for not advancing changes to the “blue slip” policy, which has frustrated some Senate Republicans.
Trump is visibly annoyed that many of his judicial nominees are stuck in limbo. He expressed intentions to take legal action on Monday regarding longstanding Senate procedures that he finds restrictive.
The responsibility of pushing Trump’s judicial nominations through the Senate is largely falling on his administration, and Trump is seemingly growing more frustrated with Grassley’s adherence to Senate customs.
His recent comments painted a picture of displeasure directed at Grassley, a long-standing figure in the Senate, who many believe has been resistant to necessary changes. Some Republican senators think that Trump is making tactical blunders.
“It’s puzzling why he would pick a fight he clearly can’t win,” one Senate Republican remarked.
Another senator added that there’s little value in confronting other members, especially with Grassley’s commitment to the Blue Slip Policy for the remainder of the Congress. “It’s futile to choose a battle where the president has no chance of succeeding,” they emphasized.
Trump’s grievances first surfaced on Sunday night, as he stated that his “constitutional right” to appoint judges and U.S. Attorneys has been “completely taken away” from him.
He criticized the blue slip practice, attributing Grassley’s reluctance to abolish it as a significant barrier. In a post on his social platform, he urged Grassley to prioritize strong Republican candidates and be more forthright with Democrats.
This marks the second wave of Trump’s critiques aimed at Grassley this summer, following Grassley’s previous reluctance to address concerns raised last month. Notably, Senate Republicans haven’t rallied around Trump on these matters, showing support for Grassley instead.
“The blue slip has effectively prevented more liberal judges from taking seats on conservative benches,” noted a Senate Republican aide, underscoring the scant chance of changing the status quo since many members stand by Grassley.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader John Tune mentioned that there is little interest in revising these procedures.
On Monday, Trump announced plans to file a lawsuit aiming to challenge the blue slip rule, claiming it hampers his ability to appoint judges and U.S. Attorneys because of an informal agreement he deems problematic.
“You’ll hear more about the blue slip,” he said, arguing that he can’t secure a U.S. Attorney’s approval in states dominated by Democrats.
One element causing particular concern among senators seems to be the stalled nomination of Alina Haba as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Haba, who has been a part of Trump’s legal team, had her nomination blocked by Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim.
Following her temporary appointment, Trump rescinded her nomination when it failed to gain traction, leading to scrutiny over her initial resignation from the interim position.
“That’s still a miscalculation,” remarked a Senate Republican about the situation with Haba. “There’s no scenario where the president can really win because there are persistent concerns from other members as well.”
Haba herself has defended keeping the blue slip policy, labeling Grassley’s actions as insufficient. She has also expressed frustration with her attempts to engage with Senators Booker and Kim.
Grassley reiterated his defense of the blue slip practice on Monday, stating that the Judiciary Committee hasn’t received any necessary paperwork for review.
“A candidate for U.S. Attorney or District Judge cannot be advanced without a blue slip,” he explained, highlighting that the committee lacks the documentation needed for further consideration.
“This century-old blue slip tradition has ensured that both U.S. Senators from a state have input in judicial nominations, effectively maintaining a balance in the confirmation process,” Grassley added.
