Amy Klobuchar: “I rise again today to urge a vote in the Senate to confirm Andrew Luger to be Minnesota's U.S. attorney. For 2\1/2\…”

“I rise again today to urge a vote in the Senate to confirm Andrew Luger to be Minnesota's U.S. attorney. For 2\1/2\ years--or 890 days--Minnesota has not had a full-time U.S. attorney. During those years, from August 2011 to August 2013, Todd Jones was responsible for doing two jobs--as the Minnesota U.S. attorney and then also as Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Over the summer, the Senate confirmed Todd Jones as Director of the ATF, leaving the Minnesota U.S. attorney's position open. Even before the confirmation of Todd Jones this summer, Senator Franken and I--upon the recommendation of our bipartisan U.S. attorney advisory committee--had already recommended Andrew Luger, a respected litigator and former assistant U.S. attorney, to fill the position. This was 199 days ago. In November President Obama nominated Andrew Luger to become the new U.S. attorney, and the Judiciary Committee approved his nomination unanimously on January 9. It is time we do what is right by quickly confirming Andrew Luger to make sure Minnesota has its highest law enforcement officer in place. I also note that there is an opening in the Iowa U.S. Attorney's Office. The Judiciary Committee also unanimously approved the President's nomination for that position, and that person is also awaiting confirmation. In fact, I learned today he is in one city and his family is in another city in Iowa, and they would like to be united.…”