Republicans in the United States Senate sought on Thursday to use the second day of attorney general nominee Loretta Lynchs confirmation hearing to continue to attack what they call the lawlessness of the Obama administration.
Ms. Lynch, currently the US Attorney for the Brooklyn-based Eastern District of New York, appears to be headed for a favorable committee vote.
But that didnt stop several Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee from seeking to highlight what they said was the crumbling reputation of the Justice Department under outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder.
Senate Democrats complained that the confirmation hearing should focus exclusively on Ms. Lynchs impressive background, her strong character, and years of service as a highly-regarded federal prosecutor.
Republicans embraced a different approach. They wanted to know what kind of an attorney general Lynch might become, and whether she has the mettle to rein in President Obama if or when his planned action is illegal or unconstitutional.
It is about telling the President of the United States No, when he has gone too far, Sen. John Cornyn (R) of Texas said.
During her day-long testimony on Wednesday, Lynch dodged many of the Republicans pointed questions, refusing to directly respond to stark hypothetical questions suggesting expansive presidential power run amok.
She did acknowledge that she believes Mr. Obamas controversial executive action on immigration is legal and constitutional. And she said she would not seek to appoint a special counsel to investigate allegations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted and harassed conservative political groups in the months prior to Obamas reelection bid.
The Department of Justice, under its current leadership, has failed to fulfill some of the most basic aspects of its mission. The question for me and a lot of members on this side is whether Ms. Lynch is committed to leading the Department of Justice in a new direction, Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R) of Iowa said at the start of the hearing.
As proof of the eroding state of affairs at the Justice Department, the Republicans called to testify two constitutional law scholars who said the presidents executive action on immigration violated both immigration statutes and the Constitution. They said the legal advice offered by the Justice Department was wrong.
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Republicans ask: Is Loretta Lynch just another Eric Holder? (+video)