Overview
- John Thune said there are not enough Republican votes to end blue slips and emphasized that many in his conference want to keep the tradition.
- President Trump urged Thune to terminate the practice on Truth Social and criticized Chuck Grassley for defending it after Alina Habba resigned in New Jersey following an adverse court ruling.
- Grassley argued the courtesy is necessary to secure bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee, warning that without it Trump’s nominees would stall.
- Some Democratic senators have returned blue slips for Trump’s U.S. attorney picks in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Maine, with Jerome Gorgon and Erin Creegan slated for a confirmation package next week and Andrew Benson expected to clear committee Thursday.
- Federal courts have found four acting or interim U.S. attorneys appointed by Trump to be serving unlawfully, including Habba, as the Senate heads toward confirming 31 of his U.S. attorneys by the end of next week.