Sen. Dianne Feinstein, now the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, warned that the panel "will pay very close attention" to President-elect Donald Trump's nominees, Politico reports.
She defended President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Antonin Scalia and said he "should have been quickly confirmed." But action on his nomination was stalled and the president-elect will name someone else for the post.
"After the unprecedented and disrespectful treatment" of Garland, the California Democrat said, "the committee will pay very close attention to proposed nominees to ensure the fundamental constitutional rights of Americans are protected."
"When President-elect Trump is willing to support responsible policies and nominees, I'll hear him out, but this committee has a vital role to protect the Constitution and scrutinize policies, senior officials and judges very carefully, and that's what we intend to do."
One of the committee's first duties will be to consider Trump's nomination for the Supreme Court and his appointee for attorney general.
The Los Angeles Times notes Feinstein will be the first woman to serve as the highest ranking Democrat on the committee.
"It's a special honor to be the first woman to become ranking member of this committee, not to mention the first Californian," she said.
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