Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Thursday said Senate Republicans should allow a vote on Loretta Lynch, President Obama’s nominee for attorney general.
“I hope that they get to a point – I think that presidents have a right to pick their team in general,” said Bush, a potential 2016 GOP contender, at a town hall event in Concord, N.H. “Someone who is supportive of the president’s policies, whether you agree with them or not, there should be some deference to the executive. This should not always be partisan.”
{mosads}Bush swiped at the current attorney general, Eric Holder, saying he had “politicized” the office and created “distrust” by carrying out “the president’s political agenda.”
“There should be humbleness inside the Department of Justice,” Bush said to a big round of applause.
Lynch, he said, would bring a different demeanor to the office.
“The longer it takes to confirm her, the longer Eric Holder stays attorney general. Look at it that way,” Bush said.
Democrats are fuming that Lynch’s nomination has gone months without a full confirmation hearing.
Republican leaders have said they’ll move Lynch’s nomination along once the Senate passes a bill to prevent human trafficking. But that measure has been stalled by Democrats over anti-abortion language in the bill.
Lynch has universal support from Democrats in the Senate but would face a close confirmation vote. A whip list compiled by The Hill shows that she could count on the support of only five Republicans, enough to get her confirmed by one vote.