Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has developed his “own little filibuster” for President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees.
During an interview with Politico, Manchin — who is retiring — shared some details on how he will make decisions on whether to support the president’s nominees: they need to have Republican support.
The outlet notes he has already voted against some nominees this week.
“Just one Republican. That’s all I’m asking for. Give me something bipartisan,” the senator told Politico.
He continued, “This is my own little filibuster. If they can’t get one Republican, I vote for none.”
“I’ve told [Democrats] that. I said, ‘I’m sick and tired of it, I can’t take it anymore,” he added.
Manchin elaborated:
“If they don’t have a Republican, I’m opposing. That’s my way of saying: ‘I’m leaving this place, I’ve tried everything I can. Don’t tell me you can’t get one.’ If you’ve got a decent person you can at least get one. Just go ask Lisa, go ask Susan, even Lindsey.”
This is the latest move by the senator to break a bit from his party.
In a February interview with CNN, Manchin declined to endorse Biden as he said the president has “gone too far to the Left.”
“That’s not where America is,” he insisted.
When asked if the race came down to Biden or former President Donald Trump, Manchin said, “We’ll just have to see what happens.”
“That’s a long time before that happens. Right now there might be other people getting in, there’re still independents, you might have still a third party run from No Labels, and we’ll just see what opportunities and what type of options you have,” he added.
