Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opened the committee's executive business meeting on January 15, 2026. The agenda included votes on 13 nominations, seven of which had been previously reported favorably in 2025 but were returned to the President at the end of the first session of the 119th Congress. The President has re-nominated these individuals, and they will be voted on again.
Six nominees are being considered for the first time at this meeting. Among them are Daniel Burrows for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy; Judge Megan Benton for the Western District of Missouri; Brian Lea for the Western District of Tennessee; and Justin Olson for the Southern District of Indiana. Additionally, Brian Miller and Kevin Holmes are nominated to serve as U.S. Attorneys.
Senator Grassley stated, "I look forward to supporting each of these nominees, and I urge my colleagues to join me."
The committee will also vote on the CLEAR Path Act during this session.
Grassley addressed a recent Management Advisory released by the Department of Justice Inspector General regarding questions posed by the FBI’s Security Division under former Director Wray about employees’ political views, vaccine status, and religious affiliation during security clearance reviews. Grassley said: "These questions are totally inappropriate." He continued: "Some of my whistleblowers were subjected to this political weaponization by the Security Division. And some of those Security Division employees were rightly fired by the Trump administration." He added that "This Inspector General advisory substantiates my oversight work regarding FBI weaponization in the last administration."
He also referenced his past oversight activities related to Iran: "In March of 2025, I released a majority staff report detailing whistleblower-provided records. Those records showed that the Obama-Biden State Department obstructed law enforcement efforts to arrest high-level Iranian targets." According to Grassley, this obstruction was led by then-Secretary John Kerry due to considerations around the Iran Nuclear Deal and endangered national security.
Turning back to current business before introducing several nominees in detail, Grassley remarked: "Daniel Burrows is going to make an outstanding Assistant Attorney General... Mr. Burrows’ breadth of experience will be an asset to DOJ’s Office of Legal Policy."
He spoke highly about other nominees as well:
"Judge Megan Benton prosecuted a broad array of matters including drug crimes and violent felonies... I’m confident that Judge Benton will serve on the federal bench as competently as she has at state level."
"Justin Olson served as an AUSA in Southern District of Indiana... In private practice, Mr. Olson has also litigated issues like protection of women in college athletics."
"Brian Lea clerked for Judge Carnes on Eleventh Circuit and Justice Thomas on Supreme Court... Most recently he’s served as Deputy Associate Attorney General overseeing multiple DOJ divisions."
All three judicial nominees have experience in both private practice and public service.
"I look forward to supporting them," said Grassley.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for evaluating federal judicial nominations and overseeing legislative matters relating to justice according to its official website. It influences constitutional protections and public safety through its legislative duties (source). The committee conducts meetings from Washington D.C., with senators from both major parties participating (source). As part of its ongoing role within Congress' legislative branch (source), it regularly reviews legislation affecting civil rights and criminal justice (source).
