[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4605-S4606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Zachary Bluestone

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Zachary Bluestone to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District 
of Missouri.
  I will vote in opposition to Mr. Bluestone's confirmation to a 
lifetime appointment on the Federal bench. There are several reasons 
why I cannot support his nomination.
  Mr. Bluestone graduated from law school 9 years ago and has only been 
practicing law for 7 years. This is fewer years of experience than any 
of the 235 judicial nominees confirmed during the Biden administration. 
Luckily for him, the Justice Department under Attorney General Bondi 
now refuses to provide the American Bar Association with materials or 
access to the nominees for evaluation. The ABA stated that it could not 
issue a rating based on receiving insufficient information to evaluate 
Mr. Bluestone's qualifications.
  But it is obvious what they would have said had they been able to 
look at Mr. Bluestone's record in full: He does not have the experience 
necessary to handle the demands of the Federal bench.
  This is not my only concern, however. Mr. Bluestone is yet another 
one of President Trump nominees who continues to perpetuate the ``Big 
Lie'' that the 2020 election was stolen.

[[Page S4606]]

  In answers to written questions, Mr. Bluestone refused to admit that 
President Biden won the 2020 election, but he had no issue agreeing 
that President Trump won the 2016 and 2024 elections. The only reason 
is that Mr. Bluestone is loyal to President Trump, not the 
Constitution, nor the rule of law.
  As such, I will vote against Mr. Bluestone's confirmation. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in opposing his nomination.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). The majority whip.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I notice no further debate on the 
nomination. I request we move to the vote.