The Senate Judiciary Committee again delayed a vote on a controversial circuit court nominee who faces pushback from GOP senators on the panel.
Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene posts image of herself with gun next to members of 'Squad' Assistant Texas AG ousted after posting pro-QAnon, anti-LGBT tweets Germany says Kremlin critic was poisoned with same nerve agent used in UK attack MORE (R-S.C.) said during a Thursday business meeting that the panel would delay votes on a slate of nominees, including Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden for the Louisiana-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, until next week.
“We’re going to hold him over,” Graham told reporters ahead of the meeting.
GOP senators have been skeptical about Ozerden's nomination, which sparked criticism from some outside groups who question his conservative credentials and his dismissal of a case involving ObamaCare’s birth control mandate.
Ozerden has the backing of his two-home senators — Sens. Roger Wicker
Roger Frederick WickerPoisoning of Putin opponent could test US-Moscow relationship Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump The Hill's Coronavirus Report: INOVIO R&D Chief Kate Broderick 'completely confident' world will develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine; GOP boxed in on virus negotiations MORE (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) — and has ties to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney
Mick MulvaneyMick Mulvaney to start hedge fund Fauci says positive White House task force reports don't always match what he hears on the ground Bottom line MORE.
But Sens. Josh Hawley
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Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzRecord deficit complicates GOP path to coronavirus relief O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' Overnight Health Care: Trump pressure on health agencies risks undermining public trust | Top FDA spokeswoman ousted after 11 days MORE (R-Texas) — both members of the committee — have said they will oppose his nomination.
Republicans have a 12-10 majority on the Judiciary panel, leaving Ozerden unable to get through the committee without help from Democrats.
No Democrat on the committee has said they will support him. Sen. Dick Durbin
Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinHillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Democrats urge CDC to update guidance to encourage colleges, universities go tobacco-free Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Ill.) had said he would announce his vote on Thursday but did not.
Ozerden had been expected to get a vote last month, but the Judiciary Committee abruptly canceled the meeting.
