The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced several key nominations and a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing foreign lobbying. During its recent executive business meeting in Washington, D.C., the committee approved the nomination of Daniel E. Burrows as Assistant Attorney General by a 12-10 vote.
Judicial nominations also moved forward, including Megan Blair Benton for the Western District of Missouri (12-10), David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas (14-8), Nicholas Jon Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas (12-10), Brian Charles Lea for the Western District of Tennessee (12-10), Justin R. Olson for the Southern District of Indiana (12-10), and Aaron Christian Peterson for the District of Alaska (14-8).
The committee advanced six U.S. Attorney nominations: Andrew Benson for Maine (19-3), William Boyle for Eastern North Carolina (12-10), Kevin Holmes for Western Arkansas (12-10), Brian David Miller for Middle Pennsylvania (12-10), Richard Price for Western Missouri (12-10), and Darin Smith for Wyoming (12-10).
In addition to these nominations, the committee unanimously supported the CLEAR Path Act, a bipartisan measure led by Senators John Cornyn, Peter Welch, Jim Risch, and Sheldon Whitehouse. The legislation seeks to limit foreign influence on U.S. policymaking by prohibiting former government employees from lobbying on behalf of certain countries. "The bipartisan bill would mitigate foreign influence on U.S. policymaking by prohibiting former government employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern."
The Senate Judiciary Committee is a standing committee with authority over judicial and legal matters in the United States Senate. It reviews federal judicial nominees, oversees law enforcement agencies, and shapes policy related to constitutional rights and public safety. The committee conducts its official business from Senate office buildings in Washington, D.C., and provides public access to its proceedings and documents through its official website. Its legislative and oversight responsibilities affect constitutional protections and public safety nationwide (source).
The committee is chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley and includes members from both major political parties (source). Its work includes reviewing legislation on criminal justice, civil liberties, evaluating judicial nominations, and conducting oversight of federal agencies (source).
