[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3217-S3218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



             Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the floor today concerned that 
the Senate's advice and consent role is being undermined. It is being 
undermined by obstruction from Senate Democrats that threaten to keep 
the Justice Department from functioning as the American people expect 
and the American people deserve.
  The Office of Legislative Affairs serves as the crucial bridge 
between the Justice Department and this Congress. This relationship is 
essential not only for the legislative process, but for maintaining 
constitutional oversight and accountability.
  The Office of Legislative Affairs ensures that we, as lawmakers, have 
the timely information needed to craft legislation, conduct oversight, 
and fulfill our constitutional duties.
  When we seek answers, whether it is on criminal justice or 
immigration or national security, it is the Office of Legislative 
Affairs that takes our questions and returns the responses. This 
function can't run on autopilot.
  Yet, today, the Office of Legislative Affairs is hobbled. It lacks a 
Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General to lead that office. Why? 
Because Senate Democrats have decided to impede the confirmation of all 
justice nominees without exception. That is not the constitutional role 
of advice and consent. That is obstruction.
  Every Senator has the right to raise concerns about nominees. That is 
our constitutional role. That is our duty. And holds of specific 
nominees for specific reasons at times is very appropriate. It is an 
appropriate tool for any Senator to use.
  I have even used that tool, and I have also done it on nominees. But 
the process demands fairness; it demands common sense. We should weigh 
each nominee individually, not slam the brakes on an entire Agency, 
especially one for keeping Americans safe.
  So I am here at the floor because the nomination of Patrick Davis has 
been pending on the Senate Calendar now for 2 months. This is 
regrettable because he is an exceptionally qualified nominee. And this 
Senator should know because he worked for this Senator.
  Mr. Davis brings a strong record of public service and a deep 
understanding of the legislative process gained from his time working 
for me on the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am confident he will lead 
the Office of Legislative Affairs with diligence, with fairness, and 
with integrity. He should be confirmed today, and I am here to ask my 
colleagues to do just that.
  Obstructing his nomination serves absolutely no one. Many Senators--
myself included--have outstanding requests to the Justice Department 
that we expect answers to. I understand that some Senators may complain 
that they haven't received a response to their own outstanding request. 
I have made such complaints myself over the years under both Republican 
and Democrat administrations.
  But I don't believe that obstructing this particular qualified 
nominee who can help get the responses we need will address their 
concerns.
  I also understand that some Senators are unhappy with the current 
administration and are using Justice Department nominees to make their 
displeasure known. To these colleagues, I will simply say that the 
obstruction of qualified nominees to lead the Office of Legislative 
Affairs makes it harder for the Department of Justice to engage with 
Congress and harder for Congress to do its job.
  This, ultimately, ends up hurting the American people. I am asking 
this body to uphold a fair confirmation process so that the Justice 
Department can effectively engage with Congress. Blocking the 
confirmation of Patrick Davis does not serve the Senate; it does not 
serve the interest of justice; and it does not serve the American 
people.
  Mr. President, I am here to ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Executive 
Calendar No. 92, Patrick Davis, to be Assistant Attorney General; that 
the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; 
that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the 
table; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's 
action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  The Democratic leader.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Reserving the right to object, I will object for two 
reasons.
  First, a few weeks ago, I announced I am placing holds on all DOJ 
political nominations because the Attorney General refuses to answer 
fundamental questions about Donald Trump seeking a luxury plane from 
Qatar to use as Air Force One. This is a grave national security 
threat, as everyone knows.
  The bottom line is very simple on this plane: The President of the 
United States accepted a luxury jet from a foreign government to use as 
his personal Air Force One. It wasn't just unethical. It reeked of 
corruption, of bribery, and threatened our national security.
  That whole plane will have to be taken apart piece by piece to make 
sure listening devices aren't in it and be even more expensive. And yet 
the Justice Department didn't just look the other way; they approved 
it. That is so typical of this Justice Department and something that I 
think if a Democratic President did it, the Senator from Iowa would be 
the first on the floor to stand here and object.
  Now we hear silence--silence. They won't even answer serious 
questions about this. This plane should be withdrawn, and I have 
introduced legislation to do that.
  But that is not the only reason. Donald Trump has turned the Justice 
Department upside down. It is politicized. It is weaponized. It is 
hollowed out. Donald Trump and his acolytes in the Justice Department 
are less interested in prosecuting criminals and more interested in 
prosecuting Trump's perceived political opponents.

  This is an absolute disgrace. Both sides in past administrations, 
Democrat and Republican, have worked together to uphold the rule of law 
at DOJ. But now, the rule of law has been replaced by loyalty tests. 
Career public servants who have dedicated years to prosecuting 
criminals are just shoved aside because when Donald Trump asks them to 
break the law, to undo the law, to set aside rule of law, they refuse.
  Investigations and prosecutions are dictated by political convenience 
and not justice. And now Republicans want the Senate to quietly 
rubberstamp a political nominee for the DOJ by unanimous consent--no 
hearing, no debate, no scrutiny.
  On an important position like this, this should happen regularly that 
there should be debate. But with this Justice Department, as horrible 
as it is, as political as it is, as destructive of American values as 
it has been--no way.
  The nominee is a former staffer for the very same Senator making the 
request. Now, as my colleague noted, in the past he has been up there 
when other administrations made ethical violations and did the wrong 
thing in his judgment. But now there is just silence from my colleague 
and from all of the Republican Senators.
  And they know what is going on. They know what is going on. But blind 
obeisance to Donald Trump is wrong when it comes to something as sacred 
as this: rule of law and a Justice Department that seeks to enforce the 
law, not just go after political enemies.
  If Donald Trump and Republicans want to poison and politicize our 
justice system, I am not participating. I object.
  I add one more point with deep regret. What is happening to the 
Judiciary Committee and the Justice Department is shameful. Inspectors 
general have been dismissed with no accountability. Again, my colleague 
who used to uphold the inspectors general and praised them--tons of 
them are dismissed now.
  The American Bar Association has been sidelined. And today, up in the 
Justice Department, unqualified judicial nominees--some barely out of 
law school--are being rushed through confirmation. This is not how the 
Senate should work.
  It didn't work that way when there was a Democratic President and my 
friend was chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
  There should be no special treatment--none; not for political allies; 
not for former staffers; not for anyone. What Trump and Bondi are doing 
to the Justice Department and the rule of law is dangerous. It 
undermines the public trust and erodes the rule of law.

[[Page S3218]]

  The Senate should not be complicit. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The Senator from Iowa.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am sorry to hear the objection. I 
would like to correct the one thing that Senator Schumer said, that 
Patrick Davis didn't have a hearing before the committee. We did hold a 
hearing on Patrick Davis.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I continue to object for the many reasons 
that I have listed.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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