In a strong move, U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) declared his intent to hold all future nominations to President Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ), criticizing what he perceives as a political prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump.
Vance issued a statement expressing deep concern over the actions of the DOJ under Merrick Garland’s leadership.
“Donald Trump is merely the latest victim of a Department of Justice that cares more about politics than law enforcement,” Vance said, signaling a brewing standoff between the DOJ and Senate Republicans.
He added, “Merrick Garland’s department harasses Christians for pro-life advocacy, but allows hardened criminals to walk our streets unpunished.”
Asserting his staunch stance against what he views as political harassment, Vance proclaimed, “This must stop, and I will do everything in my ability to ensure it does.”
In a move demonstrating his determination, he announced, “Starting today, I will hold all Department of Justice nominations. If Merrick Garland wants to use these officials to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, we will grind his department to a halt.”
This bold decision means that the senator’s hold on DOJ nominations will prevent the Senate from swiftly approving President Biden’s nominees by unanimous consent, a procedure that the Senate often employs.
Instead, DOJ nominees will require a floor vote for confirmation by the Senate, potentially complicating the approval process for Biden.
However, it’s important to note that Senator Vance’s hold will not apply to all positions. For example, individuals nominated to the U.S. Marshals Service will be exempted from this freeze.
On Tuesday, Vance tweeted, “Until Merrick Garland stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, I will hold all DoJ nominees.”
In another tweet, he said, “I don’t think that Donald Trump committed a crime. And I think the core argument here is about who controls the government’s classified documents.”
“Is it the people’s elected President or is it the permanent unelected bureaucracy in Washington, DC?” the Ohio senator asked.
This dramatic action comes on the heels of multiple reports suggesting the DOJ has been improperly targeting conservatives, a concern that Sen. Vance’s decision seeks to address.
It remains to be seen how this move will impact the workings of the DOJ and the Senate in the days ahead.
