President Biden's controversial judicial nominee, Adeel A. Mangi, is facing dwindling support from Congressional Democrats, leading to speculation that the nomination may be allowed to expire without a floor vote.
President Biden's judicial nominee, Adeel A. Mangi, is facing opposition from both Republicans and Democrats, jeopardizing his chances of confirmation before the end of the 118th Congress. Some experts believe that the Biden administration and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are intentionally letting the nomination expire.
Ron Bonjean, a former spokesman for former Senator Trent Lott, R-Miss., and former chief of staff of the Senate Republican Conference, believes that the White House has abandoned the nomination. "This nominee has lost all hope from the Biden White House of getting a floor vote, given we are months away from the election," he explained.
Political science professor Grant Reeher at Syracuse University echoed this sentiment, suggesting that "having a vote and losing it due to members of your own party would only serve to advertise the problems the president is having related to the Israel-Hamas war."
Ross Baker, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Rutgers University, added that "if there is any way in which a member of Congress can avoid taking a controversial vote, that would be the course that they will take on this nomination."
Criticism of Mangi's nomination stems from his association with the Rutgers University Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), where he served on the board of advisors. CSRR has been accused of antisemitism, particularly after the recent Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.
Critics point to an event hosted by CSRR on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which featured controversial speakers such as Hatem Bazian and Sami Al-Arian. Bazian had previously called for an "intifada," while Al-Arian pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Mangi's association with the Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ) has also raised concerns. The group's founding board member, Kathy Boudin, pleaded guilty to the felony murder of two police officers.
Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada have publicly opposed Mangi's nomination, citing concerns from law enforcement constituents and his connection to a controversial and allegedly anti-law enforcement group.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has been the most vocal supporter of Mangi, despite the dwindling likelihood of his confirmation. Durbin has dismissed the criticism against Mangi as "false" and "baseless," accusing Senate Republicans of hypocrisy.
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has criticized Democrats for their support of Mangi, questioning his "disqualifying associations." McConnell claimed that the meetings between Mangi and liberal interest groups "call into question his ethics."
While the Biden administration is not actively pushing for Mangi's confirmation, experts believe there is a chance it could be pushed during the lame duck session before the next Congress.
