During remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke about the nomination of Whitney Hermandorfer to serve as United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.
00:00I ask unanimous consent that the quorum be dispensed with.
00:04Without objection.
00:05Madam President, later today, Senate Republicans will hold the first procedural vote on a judicial nominee in Donald Trump's second term,
00:15Whitney Hermendorfer, to be a circuit judge on the Sixth Circuit.
00:19Everyone knows that for Donald Trump's judges, one thing has always mattered most, loyalty to him.
00:27Not experience, not independence, not knowledge of the law, not even following the rule of law.
00:35When it comes to judges, Donald Trump cares only about one thing, fealty.
00:43He doesn't care about the law, precedent, or even what the Constitution says.
00:50He only wants them to do whatever he wants, no matter how baseless or irrational it is.
00:58A quick glance at Ms. Hermendorfer's background shows she is unqualified to serve on the bench.
01:06She has less than 10 years of legal experience.
01:09She has never served as the sole or chief counsel on a single case that was tried to verdict.
01:13Indeed, she has made a career out of going after people's reproductive rights, their transgender rights, and anti-discrimination policies.
01:28At the Tennessee Attorney General's office, she has tried to strike down protections for employees who need reproductive care.
01:36She supported Donald Trump's firing of more than a dozen inspector generals, even filing an amicus brief on behalf of Tennessee.
01:45The list of reasons why Ms. Hermendorfer would make a terrible judge goes on and on and on.
01:52If Ms. Hermendorfer is the standard for Donald Trump's judges in his second term, then it's clear Republicans learn nothing from the first time around.
02:02The American people don't want Donald Trump's foot soldiers wearing black robes.
02:09They want experienced, fair, and independent jurists committed to upholding the law.
02:15Ms. Hermendorfer falls way short of the mark, and I oppose her nomination.
02:21Again, when the only criteria for choosing a judge is fealty to Donald Trump, the judiciary runs amok, the judiciary is weakened,
02:33and the executive, as they are, trying to take away power from the first branch of government,
02:40the Congress is also trying to take away power from the third branch of government, the judiciary,
02:45in an effort to make Donald Trump a virtual king.
02:51That's what he wants.
02:52That's terrible for America, terrible for what this country has always stood for.
