Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has spoken out in defense of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) after key Senate Republicans voiced their opposition to temporarily replacing her on the Judiciary Committee. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) argued that Republicans would not be willing to help Democrats advance controversial or unqualified nominees, while Gillibrand argued that Feinstein should be allowed to decide when she leaves office. The situation has left Democrats in a difficult position, as several of President Joe Biden's judicial nominees are currently being held up in the committee.
