Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the leader of Texas’s House Democratic delegation, told Main Justice in an interview today that his state’s two Republican senators can go ahead and screen all the candidates they want for Texas’s four U.S. Attorneys jobs. But Texas Democrats will have the final say on recommendations to the White House, he said.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and President Obama (Gov)
The Austin Democrat said he certainly welcomes the informal advice of Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison. But he added:
“I think the screening committee is frankly not very helpful,” Doggett said. “The screening that will make the final determination is the screening from our Democratic delegation.”
We reported earlier this week that the senators have tried to keep their hold on the recommendation process by adding some Democrats to their traditionally all-Republican screening committee. Cornyn and Hutchinson have maintained that only senators can provide the president with advice and consent on nominations. White House counsel Greg Craig and his office have been mediating the dispute since March.
Deputy White House Counsel Cassandra Butts reassured the Texas Democratic delegation at a meeting last week that the White House would not nominate any U.S. Attorneys in Texas without the approval of the state’s Democrats.
“I think (the senators’) thoughts on this are important to have,” Doggett said. “But I’m not sure there is yet a recognition by Sen. Cornyn of the election results and that this will not be like the last eight years where they decide because the people of America have spoken and even the justice system in Texas must change.”
