Schumer Statement On Senate Confirmation Of Critical Public Safety Officials After Months Of Obstruction From Senate Republicans

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the confirmation of ten U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals whose nominations had been held up for months by Republican Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) over an unrelated matter. Senator Schumer and Senate Democrats have fought for months to get these well-qualified nominees confirmed.

“We've just gotten some very good news: the Senate has confirmed the U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals that had been blocked for quite a long time.

“It's a good thing that our Republican colleagues finally stopped their indefensible obstruction of qualified U.S. Attorneys and Marshals.

“These nominees are vital to keeping our communities safe and secure and they should never have been held up for leverage in partisan games.

“After months of waiting, communities in Georgia and Ohio and Nevada and Minnesota and New Hampshire and other states are finally getting the security they need with confirmed U.S. Attorneys.

“So I'm very glad that this is finally, finally happened. It took too long but now it's done.”

BACKGROUND:

After months of obstruction by Republican Senators, the Senate just confirmed the following public safety nominees by unanimous consent:

1.         Ryan K. Buchanan, of Georgia, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia

2.         Jason M. Frierson, of Nevada, to be United States Attorney for the District of Nevada

3.         Mark A. Totten, of Michigan, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan

4.         Marisa T. Darden, of Ohio, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio

5.         Delia L. Smith, of the Virgin Islands, to be United States Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands

6.         Eddie M. Frizell, of Minnesota, to be United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota

7.         LaDon A. Reynolds, of Illinois, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois

8.         Trina A. Higgins, of Utah, to be United States Attorney for the District of Utah

9.         Jane E. Young, of New Hampshire, to be United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire

10.       Vanessa Roberts Avery, of Connecticut, to be United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut

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