Manu Raju

Manu Raju @mkraju

Roy Blunt, senior Missouri GOP senator, on Eric Greitens: “If the statements filed with the court are true, he should not be a candidate for the Senate,” he tells @tedbarrettcnn — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Just asked Durbin about his very testy exchange with Sen. Graham at hearing, “Lindsey knows how to get on CNN,” he said with a laugh — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Cornyn asks why in a brief she referred to Bush and Rumsfeld as “war criminals.” He say the brief while she was an attorney seems out of character. Jackson: “I don’t remember that particular reference.. I did not intend to disparage the president or the secretary of defense.” — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

RT @NatashaBertrand: New: The US and NATO believe that Belarus could “soon” join Russia in its war against Ukraine, US and NATO officials t… — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Graham on Jackson signing onto a brief. “She says that's not her. I don't get it, I don't understand. I'm not asking her to judge the case. I’m asking her to explain to me why she got on that brief. I can't imagine getting on a brief of a position I don’t agree with.” — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Graham emerged from hearing and said it’s “fair to say” he sees red flags with Jackson nomination. He criticized her explanation of defending Guantanamo detainees as an attorney. “It just doesn’t make sense to me,” he told me. He was one of 3 Rs who voted for her for DC Circuit — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Graham and Durbin in very testy exchange over Guantanamo Bay. Graham fuming — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Jackson tells Graham she had no contact with Demand Justice. “Did you notice that a lot of people from the left were cheering you on?” Graham asks. Jackson: “A lot of people were cheering me on.” Graham now complaining about criticism against Childs, whom he wanted to be picked — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Jackson: “Respectfully, senator when you are an attorney …. You represent their positions before the court.” Graham was one of three Republicans to vote for Jackson to the DC Circuit, but certainly doesn’t seem to be in the YES camp now — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Graham tries to tie Jackson to her defense of Gitmo detainees as an attorney. ”I was filing an amicus brief on behalf of my clients,” Jackson says. Graham: “You sign onto this brief making this argument but you say it’s not your position?” — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Asked by Graham if she found her time as a public defender — when she defended Guantanamo detainees — rewarding, Jackson says: “Yes, I did. Because public service is very important to me.” — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

“This stuff needs to stop,” Lindsey Graham, using part of his time to gripe about Dems’ handling of past nominees — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Graham is trying to make a point over how Barrett was treated. He is now shifting into questions about Janice Rogers Brown, who was blocked by Dems to serve on the DC Circuit when George W. Bush was president — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Graham: “What faith are you by the way?” Jackson says she’s Protestant. “Personally my faith is very important. As you know there is no religious test in the constitution.” Jackson says she’s reluctant to say how often she goes to church. Graham says he goes to church 3 x a year — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Speaking to Leahy about her background, Jackson says having served as a criminal defense lawyer has helped her as a judge to “focus on the harms of the behavior that was at issue” when sentencing defendants https://t.co/oWVmDv6bFm — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Jackson tells Grassley: “I do not believe that there is a living Constitutuon that is changing” and is infused by the latest “policy position of the day.” She says she applies “constraint” to look at original text and founders’ intent. Will Rs believe that? — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

RT @alexburnsNYT: Playbook has an exclusive look at the Biden/Harris tensions in THIS WILL NOT PASS - TOP STAFF disparaging VP - HARRIS fr… — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Cameras in the court room? Jackson says she would want to discuss with the justices first. Grassley asked if conservatives and liberals have equal First Amendment rights. She said yes. Also asked if it’s a “fundamental right” to bear arms. She says SCOTUS has established that — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Jackson on defending Gitmo detainees: “Federal public defenders don’t get to pick their clients…That is the role of a criminal defense lawyer.” — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

As chairman trying to shepherd Jackson nomination, Durbin trying to take GOP hits off the table early in hearing. Getting her to respond to court packing (McConnell criticism), sentencing child pornographers (Hawley criticism), representing Gitmo detainees (Cornyn critique) — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Durbin going directly after Hawley for backing a Trump-appointed federal judge from Missouri who sentencing child pornographers below federal guidelines. As a junior senator on the committee, Hawley won’t get a chance to question her and respond to later today — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

“As a mother and a judge who has had to deal with these cases, I was thinking that nothing could be further than the truth,” says Jackson when asked by Durbin about Hawley criticism of her sentencing of sex offenders. She expresses her disdain for them and handling of the cases — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Durbin asks Jackson about changing size of court. Says “I agree with Justice Barrett in her response to the question” that they shouldn’t be talking about “political issues.” Durbin says there’s only one member who changed size of court: McConnell, who kept seat vacant for a year — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Judge Jackson, responding to Durbin’s first question, says she understands judges have “limited power” and says she tries to ensure “I stay in my lane” as a judge — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

RT @CNN: Komsomolskaya Pravda, a pro-Putin Russian tabloid, reported nearly 10,000 Russian soldiers have died fighting in Ukraine before qu… — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

RT @NatashaBertrand: After days of fighting, Ukrainian forces have regained control of the city of Makariv, west of Kyiv, the Armed Forces… — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

RT @jimsciutto: A window into the war: New: A man was seen bleeding in new videos obtained by CNN, after being shot by Russian troops duri… — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

McConnell no comment on Greitens and would not respond to any questions on if the Missouri Senate candidate should drop out. He walked in silence without saying anything. McConnell often ignores hallway questions but periodically engages when he wants to weigh in — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

Manchin still on board with Jackson. He hasn’t said how he will vote yet but has signaled he will likely back her. His comments today show that the GOP’s criticism over her record hasn’t swayed him. — PolitiTweet.org

Manu Raju @mkraju

John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, says he believes Greitens should drop out of #mosen. “It's hard to see how he could be a viable general election candidate,” he just told me — PolitiTweet.org