Eight Senate Republicans upset over former President Donald Trump’s felony conviction are threatening to grind the Senate to a halt — or at least make it more difficult for Democrats to get anything done.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee and seven of his GOP colleagues signed a declaration Friday promising to put up as many blockades to President Biden’s agenda as they can, slowing Senate consideration of his nominees and legislative agenda and voting against his funding priorities.
“Strongly worded statements are not enough,” Lee wrote in an X post explaining the decree. “Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable.”
Mr. Lee shared a copy of the declaration signed by fellow GOP Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Rick Scott and Marco Rubio of Florida and inviting other Republicans to join them.
Although their statement didn’t mention Mr. Trump directly, there was no mistaking what they were upset about.
“The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways,” the GOP senators said in their declaration. “As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart.”
To that end, the Republicans vowed to oppose any increase to nondefense funding the Biden administration requested or any appropriations funding “partisan lawfare.” They also said they would vote against confirming any of Mr. Biden’s executive or judicial nominees and against passing any of his legislative priorities.
The most powerful tool these Republicans have is their ability to oppose unanimous consent requests needed to quickly move nominations and legislation through the Senate. They promised to block expedited consideration of Democratic “legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.”
Some of the GOP senators who signed the declaration joined Mr. Lee in sharing their reasoning on social media.
“The White House’s weaponization of our government to target President Trump for political gain represents the pinnacle of two tiers of justice,” Mrs. Blackburn wrote on X. “We cannot allow this grave injustice to prevail in the United States of America.”
Mr. Marshall similarly cited “Joe Biden and his army of partisan hack judges” weaponizing the judicial system.
“Words are not enough,” he said. “Call on your senator to join our fight — we will block every single Biden judicial nomination until America votes on November 5th.”
“Our country is in real trouble,” Mr. Scott added. “Republicans must stand together and end this madness.”
Shortly before Mr. Lee and the others announced their plans, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer posted on X urging Mr. Trump’s supporters and critics to let the judicial process move forward according to the law.
“As Donald Trump considers his next steps within the legal system, there should continue to be no outside political influence, intimidation or interference,” the New York Democrat said.