Des Moines Sun

Citing Senate Judiciary Committee precedent, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced that the Committee will not hold a second hearing on Emil Bove’s nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The vote is scheduled for Thursday, July 17.

Grassley referenced past actions during the last administration when then-Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) denied requests for additional hearings on several nominees. “Many times during the last Administration, then-Chairman Durbin said ‘there cannot be one set of rules for Republicans on this Committee and another set of rules for Democrats.’ I agree with this statement and intend to adhere to the precedent of then-Chairman Durbin. The Committee will vote on the nomination of Mr. Bove on Thursday,” Grassley stated in a letter to Senate Judiciary Democrats.

Bove participated in an extensive nominations hearing on June 25 and provided 165 pages of written responses to questions from Committee members.

Minority members requested a second hearing involving whistleblower Erez Reuveni, a former Department of Justice official, who alleged that Bove advised DOJ officials to defy court orders related to immigration law enforcement under the Trump administration. In response, Bove testified under oath, “I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order.” His testimony was affirmed by both the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General.

Grassley conducted an analysis of documents related to these allegations. “Following a comprehensive review of the additional documents that you published following the hearing and discussed in the media, I do not believe that they substantiate any misconduct by Mr. Bove,” he wrote to Minority members. He noted that most communications were internal debates about litigation strategy rather than evidence of wrongdoing.

“I respect whistleblowers and have taken this matter seriously," Grassley added. "The available documents are inconsistent with some assertions made by the whistleblower." He further clarified details regarding meetings with Mr. Bove before any litigation or court orders were issued.