Black lawmaker cites race in delayed vote for AG nominee

Black lawmaker cites race in delayed vote for AG nominee
© Greg Nash

The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus suggested Tuesday that the Senate may be delaying the confirmation of Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch because of her race.

"I think race certainly can be considered a major factor in the delay,” Rep. G.K. ButterfieldGeorge (G.K.) Kenneth ButterfieldThe time for HELP is now: Senate should pass bill to expedite recovery following natural disasters Rep. Clyburn on Confederate statues: Mob action is no answer House passes police reform bill that faces dead end in Senate MORE (D-N.C.), the chairman, told reporters on a press call.

Lynch would become the first African-American woman to serve as attorney general, but her nomination has been awaiting Senate confirmation for 130 days.

ADVERTISEMENT
Current Attorney General Eric HolderEric Himpton HolderPompeo, Engel poised for battle in contempt proceedings Obamas discuss pandemic, voting, anxiety and community in new podcast Joy Reid debut delivers 2.6 million viewers for MSNBC MORE is also black.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell tells voters 'not to worry about your vote not counting' in November Moms are running on empty, but hungry for change Record deficit complicates GOP path to coronavirus relief MORE (R-Ky.) said over the weekend that he would hold up Lynch’s nomination until lawmakers come to an agreement on a human trafficking bill now pending before Congress.

But Democrats and civil rights leaders say it is unfair for McConnell to hold Lynch’s nomination “hostage.”

Rep. Marcia FudgeMarcia Louise FudgeHouse to tackle funding, marijuana in September Honoring John Lewis's voting rights legacy Teacher-centric is good, but student-centric is better MORE (D-Ohio) called McConnell’s move “petty and mean-spirited,” during the press call organized by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President Wade Henderson called McConnell’s reasoning “flimsy at best."

“We all know that senators can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Henderson said.

“The Senate Republican majority is using every excuse it can find to delay or obstruct Lynch’s confirmation,” he added.