Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Wednesday that President Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will be “very problematic” — the latest sign that the nomination is in jeopardy.
“I’ll leave that up to them,” Graham added, when asked if the White House should withdraw the nomination. “But I think that one will be a problem.”
Canterbury’s nomination had been on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s agenda prior to a two-week recess earlier this month.
But since the Senate’s return, he’s been noticeably absent from the list of nominations that will be taken up during the committee’s weekly business meetings even as other controversial nominees — including circuit court picks “Sul” Ozerden and Steven Menashi — are scheduled to get a vote.
But Canterbury is the subject of steep GOP opposition within the committee.
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) told The Hill last month that they would oppose Canterbury’s nomination.
Meanwhile, Sens. Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Mike Lee (Utah), two other Republican senators on the panel, have also voiced concerns about the nomination.