[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2226]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            LYNCH NOMINATION

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, while I am pleased the Senate is moving, 
and moving quickly, on Ashton Carter, I am troubled that my colleagues 
across the aisle are delaying consideration of Loretta Lynch, the 
President's nominee for Attorney General of the United States. It has 
been 96 days since the President announced the nomination. This is 
longer than any other Attorney General nominee has had to wait in 
recent memory. By way of comparison, the Democratic-controlled Senate 
confirmed Michael Mukasey as Attorney General in 53 days, Eric Holder 
in 64 days.
  I sat through the hearings with Loretta Lynch, and I listened to the 
questions, particularly from the Republican side, because most all 
Democrats I know of are supporting her. I listened to the questions on 
the Republican side and I came to the inescapable conclusion that 
Republican Senators were going to refuse any effort to renominate Eric 
Holder for Attorney General. That is all they had to say. Their 
grievance was with the sitting Attorney General, who has announced he 
is leaving as soon as his successor is chosen. I listened carefully for 
any criticism of Loretta Lynch and I didn't hear it.
  Then they had the panel of public witnesses. That is a panel that has 
a majority of Republican-chosen witnesses and Democratic witnesses. 
Early on, I believe Senator Leahy asked the question of all the 
witnesses there: How many of you who are on this public panel oppose 
the nomination of Loretta Lynch for Attorney General? Not one--not one 
Republican, not one Democrat. There is no opposition to Loretta Lynch.
  Why are they holding up this important appointment by President 
Obama? Why don't we consider that this afternoon? It can be done, and 
it should be done very quickly.
  Nobody has questioned her record as a Federal prosecutor. She has 
twice before been unanimously confirmed to serve as U.S. Attorney for 
the Eastern District of New York. She has been vetted and examined and 
questioned to a fare-thee-well. She testified before the Senate 
Judiciary Committee for nearly 8 hours, answering every question, 
including 600 written questions that were sent to her.
  It is time to move forward and confirm this obviously well-qualified 
and historic nominee.
  The Senate Judiciary Committee will have the opportunity to report 
Ms. Lynch out this week. We have the opportunity to confirm her 
immediately. There is no reason for further delay. What are the Senate 
Republicans trying to prove by holding up an obviously qualified 
nominee for a critically important agency such as the Department of 
Justice?
  I hope the spirit of bipartisanship shown in that committee can be 
shown on the floor of the Senate.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 
15 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________