Staff Reports
Confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general and FBI director nominees seem to be navigating a rocky road, with Senator Charles Grassley mentioning potential delays. A scheduled hearing for Pam Bondi to head the Justice Department, initially set for January 14, may be pushed back by a week due to the necessity of completion for a background investigation and some unspecified ethical paperwork. Apparently, background checks and ethics reports are more complicated than assembling IKEA furniture.
Senator Grassley, the Iowa Republican and Judiciary Committee chairman, explained that if things go sideways with Bondi’s confirmation, they might have to bring Kath Patel in for an FBI position interview instead. While the Senate was expecting a smooth process, Grassley hinted that unexpected speed bumps are making timelines a bit less predictable, akin to someone trying to navigate a swamp on a pogo stick.
Donald Trump, never one to shy away from a fight, urged Republicans to remain “smart and tough” in the face of Democratic obstructionism. He pointed out that Democrats are likely cooking up all sorts of tricks to delay the confirmation of his popular nominees, which is about as surprising as discovering that the sun rises in the east. The ex-POTUS emphasized that Republicans cannot afford to let the Senate Democrats tamper with the confirmation process because, after winning a historic landslide, it’s time to get down to business.
Sen. Chuck Grassley: Confirmation hearings for Trump DOJ and FBI choices likely postponedhttps://t.co/75GIyi80dP pic.twitter.com/W6Oyi1mCMa
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 9, 2025
Senate Republicans hold a narrow majority of 53-47, which means that they ought to be able to push through most nominees without too much trouble. However, Democrats have mastered the art of creating gridlock, utilizing parliamentary tactics that would make a tortoise look speedy. While some of Trump’s picks, like Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Elise Stefanik for UN ambassador, are smoothly gliding through the process, others, such as Pete Hegseth for defense secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, might be in for a rough ride.
The confirmation hearings are set to start next week, and each nominee is looking for a majority committee vote followed by approval from the full Senate. America is watching to see if these nominees will transform from “great hope” to the “curse of the Senate,” all while navigating the intricacies of politics that often feel more like a high-stakes game of chess than a straightforward process. Buckle up, folks.
