Senator Warns Will Not Approve 32 Judges Until Mueller Protection Bill Gets US Senate Vote

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 15, 2018 | 04:54 AM

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) US Senator Jeff Flake said on Wednesday that he would not go forward with considering the nominations of 32 judges until the Senate holds a vote on a legislation protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into allegations of Trump-Russia collusion during the 2016 US presidential election.

"I will not vote to advance any of the 21 judicial nominees pending in the Judiciary Committee or vote to confirm the 32 judges awaiting confirmation on the Senate Floor until S. 2644 is brought to the full Senate for a vote," Flake said on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

Flake and Senator Chris Coons, who co-authored the bill, initiated earlier on Wednesday a vote on the measure but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the action saying that Special Counsel Mueller's investigation does not require protection.

The two senators told reporters that they would definitely have the bill passed because it already has enough supporters in the Senate. In addition, Coons expressed hope that more lawmakers would support the bill given that President Donald Trump naming Matthew Whitaker to be acting US Attorney General remains concerning.

Flake said Whitaker not only should recuse himself from the Russia probe, but should not be at his current position at all given the fact that he has previously criticized the probe and never been confirmed by the Senate.

Coons added that senators must have an opportunity to question the acting US Attorney General on possible recusal from all matters related to the Russia probe.

Last week, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned at Trump's request. Trump named Whitaker to fill the role of acting US Attorney General until a permanent replacement is found.

Since, several lawmakers have claimed that such an appointment was unconstitutional because it requires Senate approval. However, the Office of Legal Counsel at the US Justice Department issued an opinion on Wednesday stating that the naming of Whittaker to be acting US Attorney General is constitutional and does not require Senate approval.