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Chapter 1: What happened during the Senate cross-examination of Trump's judicial nominees?
One by one, judges nominated by Donald Trump for the federal bench were collapsing under cross-examination in the United States Senate under very basic questioning by both Democratic senators and Republican senators. These individuals look like the worst qualified individuals to be on the federal bench.
Let me show you what went down as Democratic Senator Blumenthal cross-examined these Trump picks to be federal judges about who won the 2020 election. Let's play this clip.
Who won the 2020 election?
Senator, this issue has become a question of political controversy. I'm a sitting federal district judge. I'm a nominee to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. And Justice Jackson, who previously was confirmed by the Senate for a position.
If I may interrupt you, Judge, because my time is limited. It's political controversy only because the president refuses to accept
results of the 2020 election i'm asking you as a matter of fact who won the 2020 election well senator as justice jackson stated in her responses to questions in the record it is not appropriate to engage in discussion regarding that as a judge so you're going to use the same script that other nominees have used before this panel to avoid the questions
Senator, I think the precedents established by Justice Jackson and other nominees is something that I need to follow.
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Chapter 2: Why are Trump's judicial picks considered poorly qualified?
As a matter of fact, who got more votes in 2020? Which of the presidential candidates?
Senator, as I stated before, this is an issue that Justice Jackson and other nominees have been asked. They've not provided a response.
You understand why I'm asking you to state as a simple matter of fact who got more votes.
Chapter 3: What were the key questions asked about the 2020 election?
The reason is that the president seeks to perpetuate a lie. You are, in effect, protecting the lie if you fail to take an independent position as a matter of simple fact. Everybody in this room knows the answer. You're unwilling to state it. Instead, adopting a script that's been dictated to you by the White House. You prepared this answer with the White House, did you not?
Senator, I prepared the answer based upon the response provided by Justice Jackson.
You consulted with the White House before you invoke Justice Jackson. That's the script. As you well know, that nominees sitting where you are right now have used again and again and again. Let me ask you, was the Capitol.
Then there were more questions like this from Senator Blumenthal, who's like, really, you're just going to stick to the script. Let's play this clip.
Who won the 2020 election?
Senator, as a matter of law, Joe Biden was the winner of the 2020 election. Who got more votes? Senator, my focus as a judicial nominee is on the law. And as a matter of law, Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Who got more electoral college votes?
Joe Biden received more electoral college votes.
And was the Capitol attacked on January 6th?
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Chapter 4: How did nominees respond to questions about the Capitol attack on January 6th?
I'm not laying it at your doorstep, but it has. And so many Americans now feel, because they're told, that judges are just politicians in robes. Okay? There's just many legislatures. And that's not what our founders intended, and I don't think that's what they are. And so...
When a federal judge expresses a political opinion like you did and your colleagues did, how does that help our effort to help the public understand that judges aren't politicians?
Senator, I've been told a lot that federal judges have a lot of power. And you've said it, I think, in other hearings and contexts. Yeah, they do. But our power is limited. It's significantly limited to the case or controversy before us. We don't have the power of an executive. We don't even have the power to change laws like you do as a legislator.
I get that, Judge. And you're a judge. You can do what you want. I hope you won't do something like that again. I'm not saying you don't have the right, but when you adopt a political position, which I happen to believe with, frankly, to do that as a private lawyer is one thing. To do it as a sitting federal judge is quite another. And I just don't think it's a good thing.
That's my personal opinion. You don't tweet anymore, do you?
I do not.
Okay. You don't go on social media at all?
I go on social media to follow other people, including... Sure, but not to post.
Not at all. And then finally, you had Democratic Senator Whitehouse talk about fraud on the court and what these judges' views on fraud on the court is. Let's play it.
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