Senate Democrats Flex Their Political Muscle As Republicans Rage

Amanda Walker | Flickr.com

When the Democratic majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee flexed their power for the first time in ages to issue subpoenas to two wealthy, shady conservative donors tied to recent reports of Supreme Court corruption, the Republican minority erupted in outrage.

Over the loud objection of their Republican colleagues, steely Democrats voted to issue subpoenas to right wing billionaire Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo after trying—and failing—to negotiate their compliance behind the scenes for months.

Additionally, Committee chairman Dick Durbin refused to allow a third round of debate on two of President Biden’s judicial nominees.

When Republican Senators John Cornyn, Marsha Blackburn, and Tom Cotton demanded that Durbin reconsider, he refused, reminding them that the two nominees had been debated twice before in previous hearings.

“Mr. Chairman, you’ve just destroyed one of the most important committees in the United States Senate,” said a furious Cornyn.

“You’re going to have a lot of consequences coming if you go down this road,” seethed Arkansas’ Tom Cotton. “Listen to me, I’ve cautioned a lot of you.”

The Democrats, surprisingly, were undeterred: passing both nominees and issuing the subpoenas despite the Republicans’ desperate bid to thwart them.

Immediately after news broke, Crow and Leo each issued statements, protesting the decision and declaring their intent to not comply.

To effect the subpoenas’ enforcement, Democrats will either have to take the subpoenas to the Senate floor for a full vote or refer the matter to President Biden’s Justice Department.