Chuck Grassley: “Well, obviously, I am disappointed that my request has been objected to. I had hoped today we could set a new direction…”

“Well, obviously, I am disappointed that my request has been objected to. I had hoped today we could set a new direction and put the interests of the American people over partisanship. I want to offer to the Democratic leader an offer he shouldn't object to because it has both Republican and Democrat support. If we can't agree to allow 10 U.S. attorneys who have been reported out of committee to be confirmed today, I am going to make a more modest request. David Waterman is my pick to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa--highly qualified. He was reported out of committee by voice vote, no recorded objections. My State needs him to get to work. I initially recommended him to President Biden during the last administration, and he was nominated and reported out of committee last Congress. My Democratic colleagues have tried to justify their obstruction by pointing to the hold by then-Senator Vance last Congress. Well, Mr. Waterman was one of the five U.S. attorneys returned to the President from that hold. So are we going to confirm a nominee who has been submitted to the Senate by two different Presidents and reported out of committee twice--seems to me like something the Democrats should not object to-- or are my Democratic colleague going to continue the objection?”