Sen. Cotton Tells GOP not to Help Dems Replace Sen. Feinstein on Judiciary Committee

Sen. Tom Cotton said his Republican colleagues shouldn't throw Democrats a lifeline in efforts to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on a key committee.

Feinstein has been absent from the upper chambers since February amid health complications. After an outcry from Democrats, she asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to replace her on the Judiciary Committee temporarily so that they can continue appointing President Joe Biden's judicial nominees.

"Republicans should not assist Democrats in confirming Joe Biden’s most radical nominees to the courts," Cotton tweeted with an article about the Feinstein predicament.

Cotton sits on the Judiciary Committee, and his remarks likely foreshadow GOP resistance to approving a temporary replacement.

Democrats have been wildly successful at pushing through Biden's judiciary nominations. At the two-year mark, Biden clinched 100 nominations, eclipsing former President Donald Trump's 85 and former President Barack Obama's 67.

But Feinstein's health-related absence has ground that progress to a halt. At 89, Feinstein has been absent from the upper chambers due to shingles. She announced that she will not seek reelection for her seat in 2024, setting the stage for a competitive primary.

Recently, Democrats have turned up the pressure on Feinstein to step down due to her prolonged absence. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) ripped some of those calls, noting that Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who was similarly absent due to treatment for depression, has not received the same pressure.

To swap a senator with Feinstein, Schumer must amend the chamber's organizing resolution. Republicans will likely block that maneuver, which will mean Democrats likely need 10 defections from the GOP to break a filibuster.