Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who will be leaving the Senate this year, and Chris Coons (D-DE) tried again to bring their bill to protect the Mueller investigation to the floor under unanimous consent. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected. So Flake did this:
Flake has been full of tough talk before, he’s even made this threat before. That was this June, since which time dozens of judges—including a Supreme Court justice—have been sent through committee and confirmed with his consent and his vote.
If, IF, Flake means it this time, it means something. His vote is required to get nominees through the Judiciary Committee. There are 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats and his refusal will make it much more difficult to get nominees out of committee and to the floor. Fifty-three of them. Flake is a thin, thin reed to hang one’s hopes upon, but there it is.