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Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), citing the power behind the massive Women's March all around the country as her inspiration, has delayed a committee vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) nomination to be attorney general.
“Many, many millions of Americans are deeply concerned about what the future will bring. That’s a hallmark of what happened this past Saturday in the march,” Feinstein told her committee colleagues Tuesday. “The least we can do is tell them that we’re being as careful as possible in who we place in charge of making these important decisions. For every woman and man who marched over the weekend, we owe it to them.”
The Judiciary Committee was set to vote on the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on Tuesday, but the rules allow a member to ask for a one-week delay under certain circumstances. Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) agreed to Feinstein’s request.
Feinstein gave a forceful 10-minute speech about the fight for equality that women are still waging ― on everything from equal pay to reproductive freedom ― and pointed to the committee itself as a microcosm of that struggle and the importance of making sure women’s voices are heard.
Specifically, she spoke about the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the testimony of Anita Hill before an all-white, all-male panel of senators who were clearly hostile to Hill. "I remember how they questioned her claims of workplace harassment," Feinstein recounted. "I remember thinking how a woman would never belittle someone who was brave enough to step forward and testify like Anita Hill did. It was a shameful episode in the Senate."
That, and the "massive outpouring of hope and optimism" compelled Feinstein to demand the delay. "Mr. Chairman, once again, we are being asked to evaluate the nomination of our next attorney general, who is charged with enforcing the law and upholding the protections women have fought so hard to secure," and that demands more time to consider the nomination, she said. A Feinstein constituent, however, reports that a staffer for the senator says that she might still vote for Sessions, that they haven't received many calls. Which seems like a not terribly credible claim, but you know what to do, anyway.
Feinstein also knows what's the right thing to do here: vote against this man who is clearly not qualified to do the job.