On the recordFebruary 6, 2017
as I began last night at 4 in the morning-- now 5:30--I thank the staff, both the nonpartisan staff and those in the majority and minority for enduring another late night. These are exceptional times. Thus we are here again in the early, early morning to talk about a nomination to the President's Cabinet. This is my first time on the floor since Senator Warren was gaveled down last evening. Let me just speak for a moment about my deep, deep disappointment at the events of early last evening. I want to put this in the context of the political moment that we are living in. We have a President of the United States today who is a bully, who is using his office to try to stifle and quell debate. If you dare oppose him--frankly, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat--you are going to be called names, you are going to be mocked in an effort to try to silence you. In the last week, we have seen President Trump attempt this tactic on members of the judiciary. When he got a ruling he didn't like from a judge in Washington that temporarily halted his ban on Muslims entering the country, he started personally attacking this judge, sending a signal to those in the judicial branch that, if you dare oppose him, you are going to be singled out for ridicule. The President of the United States is going to try to destroy your reputation and your career as a judge, as a jurist, as an impartial arbiter of the law if you rule against his political interests.…
