
WATCH: Democrat Senators Storm Out of Emil Bove Confirmation Vote While Blasting Republicans of Trying to 'Rush' the Vote
The confrontation unfolded Thursday after Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) pushed forward with a vote on Bove's nomination despite Democrats invoking "Rule 4," which allows for continued debate, according to Raw Story .
When Grassley declined to honor the rule or hear statements from members, Democratic senators, including Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), left the room in protest.
Booker briefly remained, chastising Grassley for bypassing standard procedure and undermining decorum and questioning whether political pressure from Trump was behind the procedural breach.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked during his remarks, adding that Republicans were "trying to rush through one of the most controversial nominees we've had under this presidential administration."
Democrats also attempted to delay the process by consulting the Senate parliamentarian and demanding whistleblower testimony be heard before a vote could take place. Grassley reportedly ignored those requests as well. Tensions then escalated when a staffer appeared to reach over to cut off a microphone mid-statement.
"What is Donald Trump saying to you that are making you do something which is violating the decorum of this committee, the rules of this committee, the decency and the respect that we have for each other to at least hear each other out?" Booker asked.
More than 900 DOJ prosecutors and dozens of judges have already signed letters opposing his nomination, citing concerns over impartiality and qualifications. The committee vote is expected to proceed without Democratic participation.
Originally published on Latin Times
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


DW
5 hours ago
- DW
NATO ex-employees accuse the alliance of going DOGE – DW – 07/30/2025
In unusually direct criticism, former NATO insiders say the alliance is being shaped to reflect Donald Trump's priorities. Officials, however, insist the restructuring is independent and overdue. Since NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte forged a consensus on massive spending hikes and flattered the United States president, Donald Trump has developed a newfound appreciation of the alliance. And, as a result, many people at NATO breathed a sigh of relief. But not everyone gave Rutte a hero's welcome. The secretary-general is facing a barrage of criticism, some of it public, over what his team calls an "optimization" of NATO resources. What might in normal times be described as a bureaucratic reshuffle, has created a different impression in the current trans-Atlantic climate. Some observers say Rutte is reconfiguring NATO to please the White House — and are doing so in ways that don't serve the alliance's broader or longer-term interests. Dr. Gerlinde Niehus, who held many positions at NATO over 26 years, has taken the lead in lambasting the changes. She went so far as to say that Rutte is following the controversial Elon Musk-driven downsizing under the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). "Taking inspiration from the ill-conceived US 'DOGE' exercise, [the reorganization] is largely a sleek ingratiation aligned to US MAGA politics," Niehus wrote in a LinkedIn post, opinions which she later confirmed to DW directly. "Under the disguise of 'efficiency,' NATO HQ functions which could become the target of Donald Trump's ire for their presumed 'wokeness' or 'irrelevance' are either downgraded, tucked away or dissolved." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Niehus refers to two changes she finds particularly disturbing: The transfer of the office of NATO's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security (WPS) out of the secretary-general's office and the merger of the Climate and Energy Security Section with Defence Policy and Planning. She says these actions have been taken to "ensure lower visibility" of these issues. In Washington, DC, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has all but eliminated WPS programs at the Pentagon, and Trump is famously dismissive of efforts to combat climate change. Is it a coincidence that some of NATO's changes seem to mirror White House priorities? A senior NATO official who spoke on condition of anonymity insists the more dangerous security environment, not any single ally, has compelled the reorganization of staff structures. "The secretary-general, like his predecessors, wants to ensure that the NATO Headquarters is organized so that it can function efficiently and effectively," the official told DW, "That is the impetus behind this structural reform, which is not aimed at cutting costs or numbers of staff but at better aligning areas of work." Perhaps the most visible difference will be the shuttering of NATO's Public Diplomacy Division (PDD). This has traditionally housed NATO's press operations; co-sponsorship of projects on issues such as societal resilience, interaction with students and other visiting groups; and general outreach to citizens. Many people in PDD will need to find other positions, while some will see their functions move to other units. The press office will be put directly under the secretary-general and the spokesperson's office. The other division being cut is Executive Management, which covers a range of tasks from recruitment to the internship program to archives. NATO sources say the number of posts being cut is not huge, perhaps 40 overall, because others are being created at the same time. Meanwhile, they say, there are some 300 vacancies. But Niehus, who spent many years in NATO public diplomacy and engagement efforts, still finds the elimination of PDD and reassignment of remaining communications staff hard to fathom at a time when she believes the alliance should be working overtime to "foster informed discussions on NATO and wider defense matters in our societies." She also fears the co-sponsorship grants program, which works with think tanks, universities and other civil society initiatives, "will come to a grinding halt." This takes on added significance with the U.S. government having disbanded its USAID global humanitarian assistance agency, which also helped fund some of these activities and services. But the senior NATO official told DW that the alliance's outreach efforts will not diminish; rather, PDD is "being reshaped into a more focused office of strategic communications." Other changes likewise "all drive toward the same principle — better alignment so that we can deliver on the crucial work of the alliance." NATO sources say the grants program will not be ended, although there may be a temporary pause to allow the bureaucratic changes to take effect. One former US State Department diplomat, given anonymity to discuss their views, agrees with the critics that there are risks to this shake-up if funding or staffing for public outreach is downgraded. Having served in both NATO and European Union public diplomacy posts in Brussels and around the world, this retired official fears the changes seen at both NATO and in the US could further fuel alienation and apathy among the public, both in alliance territory and other parts of the world. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The former official sees that happening in practice, for example, through long-distance conversations held at 5:30 a.m. once a week, as they continue mentoring a colleague posted in Asia. "My mentee told me that in her last conversation with her ambassador, she was considered 'failing' because the newspapers carried more about Australian assistance and Chinese assistance than American assistance," the retired official recounted, referring to the elimination of the USAID presence in this country. "She was 100% blamed for that. How are you supposed to win against the Chinese when we have nothing?" Back at NATO headquarters, regardless of whether it was an official order or not, some employees working in areas such as Women, Peace and Security and Climate have been encouraged not to make these parts of their job particularly visible. Several people have shared their experiences first-hand with this reporter. One prominent advocate on these issues, Hannah Neumann, a German Green member of the European Parliament, said she has similar stories from her NATO contacts. Neumann says she considers this "super frustrating because it doesn't make any sense from a purely scientific, security, political perspective.' However, she also emphasizes that it's essential to ensure that work on these topics keeps going. At present, she said she's been assured that this is happening — even if people have to change offices and keep their heads down to do it.


Int'l Business Times
6 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Hits India With 25% Tariff And 'Penalty' Over Russia Ties
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that imports from India will face 25 percent tariffs, while also announcing an unspecified "penalty" over New Delhi's purchases of Russian weapons and energy. The measures will kick in on Friday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, adding to a bevy of other tariff hikes set to take effect the same day. In a separate post, Trump said the August 1 deadline "stands strong, and will not be extended." Trump has issued multiple delays to his so-called "reciprocal" tariffs since first announcing them in early April, while instituting an interim 10 percent baseline. The 25 percent tariff on India would be marginally lower than the rate announced in April, but is higher than those of other Asian countries that have struck preliminary trade agreements with Washington. India, the world's most populous country, was one of the first few major economies to engage the Trump administration in broader trade talks. But six months later, Trump's sweeping demands and India's reluctance to fully open its agricultural and dairy sectors have so far prevented New Delhi from sealing a deal. "Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," Trump said Wednesday morning. He added that India has "always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE." In addition to the 25 percent tariff, India will face "a penalty for the above," Trump said, without any specification. The measure comes as the 79-year-old Republican has signaled he intends to tighten US pressure on Moscow to halt fighting in Ukraine and negotiate a peace deal. On Tuesday, Trump said he was giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 days -- which would mean the end of next week -- to change course in Ukraine or face new tariffs. He had previously threatened to impose "secondary tariffs" that would target Russia's remaining trade partners -- such as China and India -- seeking to impede Moscow's ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions. Trump has set out to upend the global economy by trying to leverage US economic power to squeeze trading partners with tariffs and force foreign companies to move to the United States. He has already announced deal outlines with five countries -- Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines -- as well as the one with the 27-nation EU. US and Chinese officials held talks this week in Stockholm on extending a trade truce that has temporarily lowered tariffs from soaring triple-digits. While no deal was announced at the meetings, both sides are eying an extension ahead of the August 12 deadline. Meanwhile Trump has threatened Brazil with 50 percent tariffs beginning Friday -- in part to pressure the South American ally to shut down the trial of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro on coup charges. Trump has imposed many of his sweeping tariffs citing emergency authorities, which are being challenged in US court.


DW
9 hours ago
- DW
Trump to impose 25% tariff on India – DW – 07/30/2025
US President Donald Trump criticized Indian trade policies and the decision to buy weapons from Russia while announcing that the US would impose tariffs of 25% on India. US President Donald Trump has confirmed a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the United States as well as other financial penalties payable from August. "While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.