Democrats in Congress are weighing whether to block Vice President Joe Biden from voting on his pick for attorney general, as he has for years.
| AP Photo Dems fight Biden to keep nominee from vote on AG nominationThe Latest on the Supreme Court vacancy (all times local):5:10 p.m.
Vice President Joe Pence will not have a vote on Sen. Ben Cardin’s nomination to be the next attorney general on the Senate Judiciary Committee, The Associated Press reported.
The panel voted 10-4 Tuesday to approve Biden’s nomination, which would take his seat in the Senate.
But Democrats are pushing to block Biden from being a part of the vote, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) asking the panel to delay the vote until Biden’s confirmation hearing is scheduled next week.
The committee voted 10 to 4 in favor of allowing Biden to speak before the committee in a closed session.
The Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a public hearing next week on the confirmation of Biden’s replacement, Rep. Patrick Murphy (R-Fla.), to be attorney general.