Loretta Lynch, President Obama’s choice to replace Eric Holder as attorney general, was in Tampa yesterday for the swearing-in ceremony of Lee Bentley, the new U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
Lynch is the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, and would become the first black female AG in U.S. history if confirmed. Obama nominated her way back in November, but she still awaits a vote in the full Senate. Lots of Republicans oppose her nomination because they’re upset over her support of the president’s executive order on immigration last fall that would shield up to 5 million undocumented people from being deported.
If the vote were to be held today, reporters have speculated that it would be so close that Vice-President Joe Biden might have to be called in to make the decisive vote.
But could she be voted down before that?
Enter Robert Menendez, the New Jersey Democratic senator who is expected to be indicted soon by the Department of Justice for allegedly trading political favors for gifts and lavish vacations.
The assumption for a 50-50 tie is that Menendez would support Lynch. But The New York Times reports that Menendez says he may abstain from voting for Lynch, since “his fate is so closely tied to the Justice Department, and voting either way could open him up to criticism.”
Left unsaid is that Menendez is said to be President Obama’s least favorite Democrat in the Senate. You may have noticed how the New Jersey senator has been one of the most aggressive Democrats pushing back on Obama regarding a possible nuclear deal with Iran. Menendez is also livid with the administration for its diplomatic breakthrough on Cuba last December.
It would seem a bit shocking if the Senate votes down Lynch. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has sat on her nomination for months, and with Congress breaking for (another) vacation after today for two weeks, her fate won’t be decided until April, at least.
But if I’m McConnell, I’d have the vote next week. If Menendez doesn’t believe it’s appropriate to vote on Lynch’s nomination, she may not have the votes, boosting the Republicans spirits of getting one over on Obama.
In other news…
Mary Mulhern’s career on the Tampa City Council is now history, at least for now. The Midwest native’s time on the council is about to expire, and (most) of her colleagues said they enjoyed working with her in a sendoff at City Hall yesterday.
Who says Florida is conservative? A PPP survey shows majorities favoring Medicaid expansion, medical marijuana (not just at 60 percent yet) and same-sex marriage. Oh, and the Tampa Bay Rays are only the fourth most favorite team in the state, behind two teams who don’t play in Florida.
Rose Ferlita says Jackie Toledo has a future in local politics, but says she has to clean up some of the mistakes made along the way in her unsuccessful bid for Tampa City Council this year.
And believe it or not, but Tampa is going to host its own Pride Event tomorrow in Ybor City.
