The White House is withdrawing the nomination of another one of President Trump’s judicial nominees.
The Associated Press reported that the administration will not submit paperwork for Jeff Mateer, who Trump nominated to serve as a federal judge in Texas. The Hill confirmed Mateer will not be moving forward.
Mateer is the second judicial nominee to be withdrawn on Wednesday. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday urged Trump to “reconsider” the nominations of Mateer and Brett Talley, Trump’s pick to be a federal judge in Alabama.
{mosads}A White House spokesperson confirmed earlier Wednesday that Talley, a Justice Department attorney, offered to withdraw his nomination.
Critics railed against Talley’s nomination, noting he has practiced law for less than three years and has never tried a case in court.
Mateer has drawn scrutiny for his anti-LGBT views. In a series of speeches made in 2015, he compared homosexuality to bestiality, advocated for gay conversion therapy and described transgender children as a part of “Satan’s plan.”
— Lydia Wheeler contributed. This story was updated at 4:31 p.m.