Washington D.C. – July 17, 2025 –
A highly contentious vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday erupted in dramatic fashion as Democratic senators staged a walkout in protest against the advancement of Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s nominee for a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Despite the Democratic boycott, the Republican-led committee pushed Bove’s nomination through, setting the stage for a fiery battle on the Senate floor.
A Contentious Nomination: Emil Bove
Emil Bove, a senior Justice Department official and notably, President Trump’s former personal attorney, has been at the center of a storm of criticism from Democrats and legal ethics groups since his nomination. Opponents argue that Bove’s record demonstrates a troubling willingness to prioritize political loyalty over the rule of law.
Central to Democratic concerns are allegations from a Justice Department whistleblower, Erez Reuveni, who claims Bove, while serving as acting Deputy Attorney General, indicated an intent to disregard federal court orders, even suggesting telling courts “f*** you” in one instance related to immigrant deportations. While Bove has denied these allegations during his confirmation hearing, Democrats assert that the committee failed to adequately investigate these serious claims.
Furthermore, critics point to Bove’s alleged involvement in controversial decisions during his time at the Justice Department, including mass firings of career attorneys and threats against officials who opposed the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. More than 75 former federal and state judges, along with over 900 former DOJ prosecutors, have urged the committee to reject Bove’s nomination, citing his “egregious record of mistreating law enforcement officers, abusing power, and disregarding the law itself.”
Democratic Walkout Amidst Heated Debate
The tension in the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting was palpable. Democratic senators, led by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-NY), repeatedly urged Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to delay the vote and allow for more time to consider the whistleblower allegations and other concerns surrounding Bove’s record. Senator Booker, visibly frustrated, appealed to Chairman Grassley’s “decency and decorum,” arguing that denying further debate was a violation of committee rules and a “further deterioration of this committee’s integrity.”
“What is Donald Trump saying to you that are making you do something which is violating the decorum of this committee, the rules of this committee, the decency and the respect that we have each other to at least hear each other out?” Senator Booker reportedly questioned. “This is unjust. This is wrong. It is the further deterioration of this committee’s integrity with a person like this. What are you afraid of?”
When Chairman Grassley proceeded to call the vote despite the Democrats’ protests and attempts to invoke parliamentary procedure, every Democratic member in attendance walked out of the committee room, refusing to cast a vote. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) was heard shouting, “This is a kangaroo court!” as she exited.
Republicans Stand Firm, Nomination Advances
Despite the dramatic walkout, the 12 Republican members of the committee unanimously voted in favor of Bove’s nomination. Chairman Grassley dismissed the Democratic objections as a “political hit job, timed for maximum media splash with minimum substance.” He also noted that under the previous Democratic majority, similar requests for additional hearings by Republicans were often rejected.
The White House and Republican supporters of Bove have staunchly defended his qualifications. A Justice Department spokesperson called Bove “a highly qualified judicial nominee who has done incredible work at the Department of Justice to help protect civil rights, dismantle Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and Make America Safe Again.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche even penned an op-ed in Fox News defending Bove, calling him “Trump’s DOJ champion.”
With the committee’s approval, Emil Bove’s nomination now moves to the full Senate for a final vote. If confirmed, Bove will secure a lifetime appointment to the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which holds jurisdiction over districts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The heated committee vote signals that Bove’s confirmation process in the full Senate will likely be another contentious battle, with Democrats vowing to continue their opposition to a nominee they view as fundamentally unfit for the federal bench.
