Judge pick hid marriage conflict

A CONTROVERSIAL former Alabama official nominated by President Trump to a lifetime federal judgeship failed to mention on congressional disclosure forms that he’s married to a White House lawyer.

Brett Talley, 36, who is awaiting Senate approval to become a federal judge in his home state, didn’t indicate on a publicly available Senate questionnaire that he’s married to Ann Donaldson, the chief of staff to White House counsel Donald McGahn.

As part of his prehearing screening, Talley was asked to list any family members or others who could “present potential conflicts of interest.” Talley failed to list his wife’s name, The New York Times first reported Monday.

The White House did not return a request for comment.

Democrats already had serious concerns over Talley’s nomination after the American Bar Association gave him a rare “not qualified” rating. His nomination was recommended by the Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote Thursday.

Talley, who currently serves in the Justice Department’s office of legal policy, has never tried a case and has only practiced law for about three years. He has published three horror novels and two “true ghost” stories, according to his website.