Trent Lott: “I will rise in support of the motion to recommit the nomination of Justice James Dennis to be a member of the Fifth…”

“I will rise in support of the motion to recommit the nomination of Justice James Dennis to be a member of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals back to the Judiciary Committee for further review. And I also am going to go ahead at this time and express my opposition to Judge Dennis for other reasons. I think clearly this nomination has not been sufficiently and properly reviewed by the Judiciary Committee. There has been information that has been revealed since that nomination was approved by the Judiciary Committee back in July that has not been reviewed by the full committee, by many members of the committee. As a matter of fact, I understand from what was said a few moments ago, that while the Senator from Delaware reviewed the accusations with regard to the Tulane matter, and perhaps the chairman of the committee, Senator Hatch of Utah, reviewed it, as a matter of fact, what happened after this information was given to the Judiciary Committee, I understand, is the staff sent a letter to Judge Dennis asking him to respond. Then there was a conversation by telephone regarding the allegations here without ever actually having an opportunity to interview him in person. He did not come back before the committee. And, as a matter of fact, the staff members on the two sides of the committee do not agree on what we should have done or how this matter was handled by Judge Dennis. So I do think there is very good reason to recommit this nomination.”