Democrats stormed out of a Senate committee meeting as Republicans voted to advance controversial Trump judicial pick Emil Bove for a lifetime federal appeals court seat.
The vote of approval by the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee means Bove will now face a vote from the full Senate.
Bove became part of Trump’s inner circle as his criminal defense lawyer during his Manhattan criminal case for business fraud related to payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump appointed him to a senior position in the Justice Department before nominating him to sit on the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia.
Shortly before the Senate Judiciary Committee considered Bove’s nomination, a whistleblower alleged that Bove advocated for the department to ignore court orders and make sure deportation flights take off no matter what.
On July 16, more than 900 former Justice Department employees signed a letter urging the committee to reject his nomination.
This story is developing and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats storm out over Republican vote to advance Trump court pick
