Court nominee fight ramps up
OKC bombing anniversary invoked to push for consideration of man who coordinated inquiry
WASHINGTON — Leading Senate Democrats invoked the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing on Tuesday to push for consideration of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, prompting an angry response from Sen. James Lankford.
In speeches on the Senate floor on the 21st anniversary of the bombing, four Democrats talked about the tragedy and then praised the work of Garland, who coordinated the federal investigation and the prosecution of those involved in the plot.
Garland, who worked then for the Justice Department, now is a federal appeals court judge in Washington, D.C., and President Barack Obama’s selection to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Sen. Pat Leahy, of Vermont, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Garland “helped oversee every aspect of the criminal investigation and response, and years later, he still considers his work in Oklahoma City the most important of his life.
“It is this dedicated public servant who is being denied a public hearing by Senate Republicans.”
During his floor remarks, Leahy displayed a large copy of the well-known photograph of an Oklahoma City firefighter holding the body of 1-year-old Baylee Almon.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, and Sens. Patty Murray, of Washington,
and Dick Durbin, of Illinois, also members of the Senate Democratic leadership team, made similar statements, detailing Garland’s role and criticizing Republicans for not holding committee hearings on his nomination.
Reid went after Lankford by name.
“The junior senator from Oklahoma recently praised Judge Garland saying, quote, ‘I do plan a meeting with Merrick Garland in my office in the weeks ahead to say thank you for what he did for Oklahoma during the bombing trial.’
“But that’s as far as Senator Lankford has said he will go. He’s made it clear that he will do nothing to help Garland get a hearing or a vote.”
Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, have agreed to meet with Garland, nominated last month for the Supreme Court vacancy, but they don’t want the Senate to hold hearings or a confirmation vote. They contend that the next president should make the nomination after taking office next year.
Lankford is scheduled to meet with Garland on April 27.
Lankford’s response
In remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday evening, an emotional Lankford said the fight over Garland had reached “a new low.”
Choking back tears, Lankford held up a picture of Leahy standing by the enlargement of the Baylee Almon photo.
“This child is not a prop for politics,” Lankford said.
“She has a name . ... She was 1 year and one day old. She was killed in the Murrah Building the day after her 1-year birthday. She’s not some random toddler. Her name is Baylee. And she is not to be used as a prop for politics in the Supreme Court nomination process.”
He said, “It is absolutely fair game to talk about the record of Judge Garland and what he has done. We are grateful as Oklahomans for his service to our state and to our nation to put away those awful terrorists.
“But to use a child who was killed in the Murrah Building bombing as a prop so far exceeds the line that I had to come and speak about it and say I’m absolutely offended, and I should be.”
Lankford said Republicans had made it clear since Scalia’s death that they were not going to advance Garland’s nomination during this election year.
“He does deserve our gratitude,” Lankford said. “He doesn’t deserve a lifetime appointment on to the bench because of his faithful service to our country and our community, as is being alluded to.”