Sen. Joe Manchin (I‑WV) said his “pocket veto” on partisan judicial nominees is still in place, despite an exception he acknowledged he made last week based on a judge’s qualifications.
In March, Manchin announced he would not vote for any judge nominated by President Joe Biden who lacks Republican support, putting an obstacle before Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) in a chamber he controls by a single vote.
But Manchin, who caucuses with the Democrats, abandoned that approach Thursday when he helped advance the nomination of Kevin Ritz, a Tennessee judge opposed by all Republicans, including his home state senators.
Manchin said the vote was a “one-off,” blaming what he cal …