[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NOMINATION OF EMIL J. BOVE III

  Mr. SCHUMER. Now, on Mr. Bove--Emil Bove--last week, Senate 
Republicans on the Judiciary reported out one of Donald Trump's worst 
judicial nominees yet, Emil Bove; and that is saying a lot, since there 
are so many bad ones. Judiciary Republicans were so afraid to talk 
about Mr. Bove's nomination, in fact, that the Republican chair cut off 
debate time and refused to let all Democrats speak. And rather than 
being part of this farce, Judiciary Democrats, led by my friend the 
ranking member, Senator Durbin, rightly walked out of the hearing.
  I commend my Democratic colleagues for standing up for the integrity 
of our courts and refusing to participate in a compromised committee 
process with a deeply compromised nominee.
  It is obvious why the Republicans were so eager to cut off debate. 
They know the arguments against Mr. Bove are telling and so unworthy of 
anyone nominated to a court of appeals or any judicial position in this 
government.
  Mr. Bove is the perfect example of the type of person Donald Trump 
wants on the bench: political, aggressive, unprofessional, abusive, and 
ready and willing to put the Trump agenda over the rule of law. We all 
know what Donald Trump wants from judges: complete obeisance of 
whatever he wants, regardless of the rule of law, regardless of 
precedent, regardless of the Constitution.
  Mr. Bove has a long history of defending Donald Trump when he was his 
personal attorney. He defended the President when the President was 
accused of inciting the January 6 insurrection, mishandling classified 
documents, falsifying business records, and more.
  So what should that do when someone defends a President who is 
accused of very serious crimes? It should disqualify them from the 
bench. But the opposite occurs in the Trump administration. His defense 
of Trump's indefensible actions earned him a top spot at the DOJ, where 
he used his power to fire prosecutors who were working on criminal 
cases for the January 6 insurrectionists.
  That is right. Mr. Bove helped the rioters who assaulted law 
enforcement officers on January 6 get off without any charges.
  What is happening to this country? What is happening?
  And if that is not enough to disqualify him, one whistleblower 
testified Mr. Bove repeatedly told DOJ lawyers to ignore court orders 
and even deliberately mislead judges. Mr. Bove encouraged officials not 
to tell judges the truth, the same sort of judges he is now nominated 
to serve alongside.
  How can someone who has such disregard for our judges and our courts 
be trusted on the bench? Mr. Bove's nomination previews the dark, 
ominous plan Donald Trump and Republicans have for the Federal 
Judiciary. They want to fill our courts with partisan operatives who 
will protect and serve Donald Trump, not protect the rule of law.
  Experience doesn't matter. Judicial independence doesn't matter. 
Understanding the law and applying it without fear or favor doesn't 
matter at all. In fact, there is fear of Donald Trump among so many of 
the Republican nominees for judges and so many of our Republican 
Senators. For Donald Trump, the only thing that matters, when it comes 
to judges, is unyielding fealty to himself.

  We have never seen--never--such a disastrous mandate for our Federal 
courts in all of American history, and if the Republicans proceed, the 
damage to our Judiciary will be irreversible.
  Mr. Bove's nomination is an insult to every single qualified, 
independent judge who has ever sat on the Federal courts. He should 
never have been nominated. He should never have been reported out of 
committee, and he should never, ever be confirmed by the Senate to such 
an important job.

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