President Trump came out swinging Sunday night, blasting Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for using a century-old Senate tradition to block his nominee for U.S. attorney in New Jersey — longtime Trump ally and former personal attorney Alina Habba.
Today, he announced his intention to sue to stop Sen. Grassley from blocking Habba’s confirmation as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. He cited Grassley’s reliance on a “gentlemen’s agreement” with Democratic senators that gives them veto power through the informal “blue slip” process — a tradition, not a legal requirement.
The blue slip process — a courtesy that allows home-state senators to weigh in on federal judicial and U.S. attorney nominations — has no legal foundation. It’s tradition, not law. Trump argues that it’s now being weaponized to stonewall his appointments, and that enough is enough.
Habba’s status remains in limbo after a federal judge ruled on Aug. 21 that her appointment was invalid without Senate confirmation. Trump argues that Grassley’s handshake deal with Democrats hands them power they never won at the ballot box.
So far, Grassley isn’t budging, though he hasn’t addressed Trump’s latest remarks. Iowa’s senior senator has defended the blue slip as an essential part of Senate protocol, saying nominees without it simply lack the votes — in committee and on the floor. He also noted that paperwork for Habba’s nomination was never formally completed.
Trump’s move comes as he looks to accelerate staffing across his administration, especially with next year’s midterm elections looming. Past presidents have rarely gone to war over blue slips — but Trump has never played by the old rules.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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Time to put the Senate into recess, and conduct recess appointments since the RINOS want to placate the communists that do not want justice to happen in our Country.
Senators need to be put in their place. They don’t have veto power over nominees. They have a right to vote for or against a nominee but they don’t have any legal right to just block a nominee.