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Trump’s Attorney General Nominee Hits Snag in Senate · GNN Daily Breaking News

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  Speaker 1: President Trump's nominee for attorney General has hit a serious
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  Speaker 1: obstacle in the Senate as a key Republican senator withheld
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  Speaker 1: support during confirmation hearings this week. The setback underscores the
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  Speaker 1: fragile political balance in Washington and the high stakes surrounding
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  Speaker 1: leadership of the Justice Department. The nominee, a long time
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  Speaker 1: prosecutor with close ties to Trump's inner circle, faced sharp
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  Speaker 1: questioning over independence from the White House. Senators pressed on
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  Speaker 1: whether he would protect ongoing investigations into political corruption and
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  Speaker 1: national security or bent to presidential influence. While most Republicans
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  Speaker 1: backed the nomination, one senator broke ranks, citing concerns about
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  Speaker 1: civil liberties, prosecutorial discretion, and the nominee's past record. Without
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  Speaker 1: that support, the Judiciary Committee cannot advance the nomination to
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  Speaker 1: a full Senate vote. Democrats seized on the hesitation, arguing
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  Speaker 1: it proves the nominee is unfit to lead the Justice Department.
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  Speaker 1: They pointed to Trump's history of clashing with federal prosecutors
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  Speaker 1: and warned that installing a loyalist could erode the rule
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  Speaker 1: of law. Committee democrats also raised questions about the nominee's
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  Speaker 1: stance on surveillance powers, voting rights enforcement, and corporate regulation.
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  Speaker 1: The White House has not yet indicated whether it will
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  Speaker 1: pressure the holdout senator or consider an alternative candidate for Trump.
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  Speaker 1: The attorney general post is critical the Justice Department oversees
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  Speaker 1: investigations into terrorism, financial crimes, and political scandals. Astalled nomination
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  Speaker 1: could weaken his ability to advance priorities such as tougher
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  Speaker 1: immigration enforcement and expanded executive authority. Historically, Attorney general confirmations
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  Speaker 1: have been contentious, from Jeff Sessions in twenty seventeen, who
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  Speaker 1: face scrutiny over Russia contacts, to Merrick Garland in twenty
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  Speaker 1: twenty v one, whose nomination reflected Democratic efforts to restore independence.
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  Speaker 1: The role has often been a flashpoint for partisan battles.
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  Speaker 1: Trump's current nominee now joins that tradition, with the outcome
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  Speaker 1: hinging on whether the administration can win over skeptical senators.
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  Speaker 1: The snag also highlights broader tensions within the Republican Party.
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  Speaker 1: While many lawmakers remain loyal to Trump, some are wary
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  Speaker 1: of consolidating too much power in the executive branch. The
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  Speaker 1: holdout senator's resistance reflects those concerns, suggesting that even within
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  Speaker 1: Trump's majority, consensus is not guaranteed. Ultimately, the fight over
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  Speaker 1: this nomination is about more than one individual. It is
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  Speaker 1: a test of how far Trump can push his agenda
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  Speaker 1: in a divided Senate, and whether the Justice Department will
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  Speaker 1: emerge as an independent institution or an extension of presidential power.