Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee tried to shout down Chair Dick Durbin after he limited debate on judicial nominees up for their third round of consideration by the panel, drowning out the clerk calling the roll.
The panel, beset with partisan rancor in recent months, was thrown into chaos before getting to the most contentious agenda items set for votes on Thursday, subpoenas for conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo and Texas billionaire Harlan Crow regarding their relationships with Supreme Court justices.
Durbin limited debate, saying that lawmakers had two previous chances to speak against the nominees, which Republicans claimed was false and set a dangerous precedent.
“Mr. Chairman, you just destroyed one of the most important committees in the United States Senate,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told Durbin. “Congratulations on destroying the United States Senate Judiciary Committee.”
When Republicans sought recognition from Durbin to speak on the nominees, he said the committee was in a roll call vote, as the clerk continued to call the roll as lawmakers shouted over her and each other.
“You want us to shut up?” asked Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in response to Durbin.
“I guess Durbin isn’t going to allow women to speak, I thought that was sacrosanct in your party,” said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) after Blackburn was rebuffed.
“You’ll have a lot of consequences if you go down this road,” warned Cotton.
Republicans wanted further opportunity to speak against judicial nominees they said are unqualified and unfit for the federal bench.
Durbin eventually relented for a third judicial nominee, who had not seen previous action in the committee.
The Illinois Democrat eventually explained the precedent he was acting under, citing Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley’s leadership of the committee, during which debate was limited on the nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and on an immigration bill.
“Republicans established a new precedent that I followed on one occasion last Congress and will follow again today. I’ve said time and time again there cannot be one set of rules for Republicans and a different set for Democrats,” Durbin said.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.).
