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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 20 July 2018

McConnell withdraws Trump judicial pick minutes before vote

By KEVIN FREKING and in on a judicial nominee
MARY CLARE JALONICK from their home state by
Associated Press submitting a blue-colored
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- form called the “blue slip.”
ate Majority Leader Mitch A positive blue slip signals
McConnell on Thursday the Senate can move for-
abruptly withdrew one of ward with the nomination
President Donald Trump’s process. The blue slip is de-
appellate court nominees signed to generate consul-
when it became apparent tation between the execu-
he did not have enough tive branch and Congress.
support to pass. The two Oregon senators
The decision came just min- signaled their objections
utes before the confirma- by not returning blue slips,
tion vote and after senators which would generally stall
voiced concerns about his a nomination.
college writings. This time, Republicans opt-
McConnell indicated that ed to move forward any-
the administration would way, which meant that
be withdrawing the nomi- if Bounds had been con-
nation of Ryan Bounds, an firmed, it would have been
assistant U.S. attorney in the first time since at least
Oregon, to serve on the 1956 and possibly much
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap- In this May 15, 2018, file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pauses as he speaks longer that a nominee had
peals. to reporters at the Capitol in Washington. been confirmed without
Republicans have been Associated Press positive blue slips from both
able to use their thin majori- those senators. ing too sensitive when a without regard to whether home-state senators.
ty to push several of Trump’s The two senators from group of intoxicated ath- they were potentially con- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the
nominees through despite Bounds’ home state, Dem- letes vandalized a statue troversial,” Bounds said. ranking Democrat on the
overwhelming Democratic ocrats Jeff Merkley and celebrating gay pride. While Democrats objected Senate Judiciary Com-
opposition. Arizona Sen. Ron Wyden, had objected In the same column, he to Bounds’ writings and the mittee, called Bounds “a
John McCain’s absence to the nomination, saying seemed to mock Latino process used to advance deeply flawed nominee
has given the GOP even the Trump administration students for being too sensi- him, Republican senators who concealed his views
less cushion, with Republi- hadn’t consulted them tive when they complained focused on his work as a during the nominations pro-
cans holding a 50-49 voting about it. They highlighted about the termination of a lawyer. cess, which is why I strongly
edge. writings from Bounds’ years Latino administrator. “Fairness, impartiality, intel- opposed him in commit-
“After talking with the nom- at Stanford University that Bounds said the article lectual rigor. To sum it up, tee.”
inee last night and meeting they said revealed alarm- didn’t show sufficient re- in the words of one legal Merkley and Wyden said
with him today, I had unan- ing views on race, workers’ spect for the concerns of peer, quote, ‘Ryan has all they had spoken in detail
swered questions that led rights and the gay commu- the students involved. “I of this, and more,’” McCo- with colleagues in recent
to me being unable to sup- nity. They also complained apologize for that; it is not nnell said Thursday morn- days about Bounds but
port him,” Scott said. that Bounds did not provide in keeping with how I have ing, hours before pulling the were afraid the issue was
A person familiar with his Stanford Review opinion lived my life,” Bounds said. nomination. “So, I look for- getting lost.
Scott’s thinking said he had columns to a judicial selec- Bounds also told senators ward to voting to confirm “I’m still somewhat sur-
concerns about some of tion committee in Oregon that he did not believe he this excellent nominee, and prised that we had a suc-
Bounds’ writings. The per- that makes recommenda- needed to submit pre-law I urge all my colleagues to cessful outcome,” Merkley
son spoke on condition of tions for federal judges. school writings to the judi- join me.” said. “I do not feel this indi-
anonymity because Scott Bounds, 45, was asked cial selection committee. Democrats were incensed vidual was the right person
was not detailing his con- about the writings during “Senator Wyden’s office that Republicans were to serve on the bench, but
cerns publicly. the confirmation hearing explicitly told me the com- moving ahead despite the I’m very pleased my col-
Scott said he felt like he and in questionnaires sub- mittee sought to review objections of both home- leagues had a long discus-
needed “more informa- mitted by senators, and materials going back only state senators, saying the sion about it over lunch and
tion,” and other Republi- he apologized. In one col- ‘as far as law school,’ and GOP was discarding Sen- decided to take the course
cans joined him in asking umn titled “Lo! A Pestilence so I identified and (to the ate courtesy and tradition. you saw them take by ask-
for that. He said Florida Sen. Stalks Us,” he appeared to extent practicable) pro- The Senate gives lawmak- ing the president to with-
Marco Rubio was one of mock LGBT students as be- duced all such materials ers a chance to weigh draw the nomination.”q