Senate upholds Trump's controversial court order to replace Kavanaugh

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Neomi Rao, a candidate for President Donald Trump's judiciary, to the country's second highest judicial body, despite initial concerns expressed by a handful of Republicans about his earlier writings on terrorism. sexual assault and his position on abortion.

In one 53-46 vote In the same spirit as the parties, the Senate approved the appointment of Mr. Rao as Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court Judge, at the Circuit Court of Appeal. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) Did not vote.

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During her confirmation hearing, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) questioned Rao, director of the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, about her views on rape by the police. date and gender equality. In an article she wrote while she was a student at Yale, Rao said that if a woman "drinks to the point of not being able to choose, well, getting to that point is part of her choice." ".

Ernst, one of two Republican women sitting on the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized Rao at the time, saying the candidate's writing proposed a "break." Ernst had previously stated that she had been raped at the university.

Ernst's concerns, however, were appeased after Rao sent a letter to Lindsey Graham (RS.C.), President of the Senate Judiciary, and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), A member of the judiciary's judicial hierarchy. Senate, which regretted his academic writings.

In addition to Ernst, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Another member of the Judiciary Committee, expressed concern over Rao's views on abortion, which provoked a brutal reaction by conservative groups. The Judicial Crisis Network responded that it would spend $ 500,000 for the purchase of an advertisement in Missouri in order to put pressure on Hawley for it to support Rao.

Ernst and Hawley both supported Rao's candidacy in the Senate and his final confirmation.

At the same time, Democratic senators have expressed concern over the circumstances in which they would recuse themselves from cases involving the rules of the Trump administration.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Addressed the Senate on Tuesday to applaud Rao's appointment.

"Ms. Rao's record shows she will continue to lure justice in favor of a few and leave everyone else behind," said Warren.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Paid tribute to Rao on Wednesday, saying that during her confirmation hearing, "she has demonstrated her commitment to maintaining public confidence and upholding law."