Cotton Delays Confirmation Vote For Merrick Garland

The Hill reports:

Merrick Garland’s attorney general nomination is hitting GOP roadblocks that will likely delay his confirmation to lead the Justice Department until next week.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) — a member of the Judiciary Committee viewed as a potential 2024 contender — said on Wednesday that he is blocking an effort by Democrats to expedite Garland, whom they had hoped to confirm this week.

Cotton’s disclosure of holding up Garland’s nomination comes after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said earlier Wednesday that efforts to speed up Garland’s confirmation had hit a GOP objection.

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Democrats are trying to expedite Judge Garland’s confirmation vote. I’m blocking them because Judge Garland has refused to answer basic questions, including whether illegally entering the country should remain a crime. pic.twitter.com/Cv2FHF6VwV

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 3, 2021

When asked whether he thinks President Biden has authority to ban certain semi-automatic firearms, Judge Garland said he is “unfamiliar with this issue” and refused to answer. pic.twitter.com/eQbOYjXLMc

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 3, 2021

I asked Judge Garland whether the Department of Justice has authority to deny gun sales indefinitely to individuals who have not been found to have any background check red flags. He said he doesn’t know. pic.twitter.com/MXIw54Q0QA

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 3, 2021