Mitch McConnell, Senate Republicans Ram Through Trump Judicial Nominees As Stimulus Talks Stall

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., managed to push through six judicial appointments nominated by President Donald Trump over Tuesday and Wednesday, while much of the national attention has focused on stalled negotiations over a COVID-19 stimulus package.

The judicial nominees will fill federal vacancies in states such as California and Illinois.

“The Senate has confirmed six of Trump’s judicial nominees in the past 30 hours. These are lifetime appointments that McConnell’s pushing through instead of the HEROES Act & other crucial legislation. Every news program should be covering this tonight,” Vanita Gupta, the President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, tweeted Wednesday.

David Dugan and Stephen McGlynn, two judges with records opposing abortion, were confirmed to the Eastern District of Illinois. The pro-choice group NARAL described Dugan as "extremely hostile to reproductive freedom."

The confirmations come after a “skinny” $500 billion COVID-19 bill failed in the Senate last week. Trump has called for a larger package but Senate Republicans are cool to the idea.

“If the number gets too high, anything that got passed in the Senate will be passed mostly with Democrat votes and a handful of Republicans so it’s gonna have to stay within a realistic range if we want to maximize, optimize the number of Republican senators that will vote for it,” Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., said about a larger package.

Republican senators are also expected to vote on a continuing resolution that will fund the federal government for the coming months. Senators are expected to recess on Oct. 9, in order to have time to campaign prior to the November election.