On the recordFebruary 11, 2019
due to the actions of the Department of Justice, I have placed a hold on Donald Washington to be Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. This hold does not reflect any misgivings I may have against Mr. Washington. I believe he is a man of great integrity, and his previous role as a U.S. Attorney has prepared him for the post he has been nominated to. Mr. Washington is an excellent candidate, and I look forward to supporting his nomination. However, I cannot allow his nomination to proceed at this time due to the actions of the Department of Justice. On December 10, 2018, the Department of Justice agreed to provide my staff with a briefing on the Marshals' apparent misuse of the Assets Forfeiture Fund. Then on January 7, 2019, less than 24 hours before the briefing was set to take place, the Department cancelled on account that I was no longer the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. As I have explained several times, it is the constitutional duty of every Member of Congress to conduct oversight. Furthermore, at the time that the Department communicated their cancellation, I was still chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I am placing this hold on Mr. Washington, a Department of Justice nominee, until the Department of Justice fulfills the promise to provide my staff with a briefing of the Assets Forfeiture Fund. ____________________
