Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Republicans Going Nuclear On Trump Nominations

I'd also like to say a few words today about the step Leader Thune is expected to take later this evening to begin changing Senate precedent, and to go nuclear yet again on nominations.

At the end of the last work period, Democrats were working in good faith with Republicans on a nominations package to move through this chamber.

Senator Thune was very involved. He seemed very willing to come up with an agreement.

And then at the last minute, of course, Donald Trump said – literally to me – “Go to hell,” and the talks fell apart.

Was there any backbone or any strength to say to Trump that we have an agreement? And that he should take a walk? No way.

And so now, rather than giving talks another chance, Republicans would rather change how the Senate operates, to weaken this chamber’s traditional and powerful sense of deliberation.

And if Republicans go nuclear, the historically bad nominees we've seen so far under Donald Trump will get only worse.

Let me say that again, because this is the crux of the matter: we all know what horrible nominees he puts up. As I said before, like with Mr. Artau, they have no sense of integrity, no sense of rule of law, and just bow down to Trump.

Well, the kind of people who have been confirmed by this chamber so far this year have been unprecedentedly bad. Beyond the pale. Scandal after scandal, expose after expose.

Many of them are far worse than any group of nominees we’ve seen before.

Donald Trump has made a mockery of the nominations process.

He lacks any sense of principles.

He doesn't care if the people he picks are unqualified, or if they're liars, or if they're corrupt.

Sometimes it's almost as if the more corrupt the better, because then Donald Trump will tell them what they do.

It’s as if he wants the Senate to confirm people willing to lie for him, to even cheat for him.

He wants people who are willing to stand up for him without question.

Loyalty is the only quality he seeks. And to hell with the rest.

And if you don't debate on nominees, if you don’t vote on individual nominees, if there's not some degree of sunlight, what will stop Donald Trump from nominating even worse individuals than we’ve seen to date, knowing that this chamber will rubber stamp anything he wishes?

I say to my Republican colleagues to think carefully before taking this step.

If you go nuclear, it will be a decision you come to regret.

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