Democrats took advantage of the rules of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday to delay consideration of Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI — but broke some recent precedent in the process.
While lawmakers typically do a one-week punt on Judiciary Committee votes for an variety of reasons — from opposing a bill to nominees — rarely if ever does the panel meet in person to formally approve the delay. Democrats’ vehement opposition to confirming Patel prompted such an in-person gathering.
Democrats had requested a second hearing with Patel to grill him over the recent leadership shakeup at the FBI. They view the staunch Trump loyalist as someone who is prepared to use the pulpit of the FBI to go after political adversaries.
Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) had denied Democrats’ pleas, describing on Thursday the meeting as breaking with the panel’s norms. He has said he intends to hold Patel’s committee vote as early as next week.