HuffPost reports:

In a pathetic act of cowardice last year, a handful of Democrats tanked one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees, Adeel Mangi.

Mangi, who was a veteran civil litigator in New Jersey, was an objectively impressive and qualified pick. He also happened to be Muslim, so Republicans subjected him to a disgusting monthslong smear campaign aimed at baselessly casting him as an antisemitic terrorist sympathizer.

Despite his horrific treatment, Mangi hung in there, racking up endorsements from major Jewish groups, and could have been confirmed if Democrats stuck together. But wary of their own reelection bids, a handful of senators chickened out and said they’d vote no. Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) said they would vote no because of opposition by law enforcement groups, which was rooted in nonsense. Former Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) abruptly declared he would longer support any judicial nominees who didn’t have GOP support. That included Mangi.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sealed his fate by cutting a deal with Republicans to expedite votes on a batch of judicial nominees — but not Mangi.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday whom he plans to nominate to this seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit: his personal criminal defense attorney, Emil Bove, who is currently known as Trump’s hatchet man at the Justice Department. [Continue reading…]

Nonprofit watchdog American Oversight issued the following statement:

Emil Bove’s nomination to the Third Circuit is deeply troubling. His conduct in the dismissal of serious federal charges against Mayor Eric Adams — apparently in exchange for political favors — raises urgent questions about his fitness to serve in any public capacity, let alone the federal judiciary,” said Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight. “Seven seasoned prosecutors resigned rather than carry out his unlawful and politically motivated directives. If confirmed to the federal bench, Mr. Bove would carry with him a record of placing partisan loyalty over the rule of law — an unacceptable risk to the integrity of the judiciary and the future of our democracy.