Sen. Booker on Calling a Vote for Emil Bove’s Nomination: ‘What Are You Afraid of?’

EXCERPT:

BOOKER: “You could overrule the rule — the point of order I’m doing, but you have to follow the precedents and procedures of this committee. This is outrageous, that you’re not allowing senators to have their fair say before a controversial nominee is being done. This is unbelievable. 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? Are you afraid of hearing from Chris Coons, from hearing from one of my colleagues, from hearing from Adam Schiff? What is the fear here? Have at least the decency to have a vote on my point of order regarding rule 4. I have respect for you, Mr. Chairman. We've served together for more than a decade. But this is outrageous. This is unacceptable. This is wrong. It is wrong. And why? Why? What is the rush to take another half hour to listen to people? What is the rush? What are we afraid of, Mr. Chairman? What are we afraid of? I do not understand why senators can’t debate a nominee as we have done when both sides have been in the majority to take the time. What is the thing that you’re so afraid of from hearing from my Senate colleagues? This is a violation of the precedents of this committee. We’re not trying some stunt here to try to force a two-hour rule, like you all did when you were in the minority. We just want to be heard before a controversial vote. Sir, this is wrong and you know it. You are a person of integrity. How could you be doing this? At least have a vote on my point of order. Sir, with all appeals to your decency, with all appeals to your integrity, with all appeals to past jurisdiction and past precedent, why are you doing? This is outrageous."