Senate Dems Could Confirm Biden Judicial Nom Who Unmasked Underage Sexual Assault Victim As Soon As Next Week

Durbin puts Michael Delaney’s nomination forward in the wake of opposition

Senate Democrats can vote on the Biden judicial nomination, which is currently under fire after he revealed the identity and victim of underage sexual assault, as early as next week.

After months of protest from Republicans, and victims advocates, Sen. Dick Durbin (D. Ill.), the chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee announced Thursday that Michael Delaney was nominated to the First Circuit. He could receive a confirmation vote as soon as next Wednesday.

Delaney could be President Joe Biden’s most controversial nominee for the judicial seat. While in private practice he represented The prestigious St. Paul’s School, New Hampshire in a civil lawsuit filed by a minor sexually assaulted at campus. Delaney opposed an anonymous victim motion during the proceedings.

The conduct of Delaney, which ultimately proved successful, caused outrage among the victim Chessy Prout and her family. Republicans quizzed Delaney about his attempts to remove Prout’s anonymity. This put Democrats in awkward positions, as they have always been vocal about protecting victims and women.

End Rape on Campus, a victim’s rights group spoke out against Delaney on Tuesday. “If confirmed, Michael Delaney’s appointment to this important position will send a chilling message to survivors of sexual assault and advocates,” The group wrote.

Although the White House and Democrats have made promises to Delaney, it is not certain that he will be confirmed. Two senators are currently missing from the Democrats, Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), and John Fetterman(Pa.), because of serious illness. Delaney is likely to need at most one Republican in order for him to be confirmed until one of them recovers.

New Hampshire senators Jeanne Shaheen, D. (D.), and Maggie Hassan, D. (D.), led the confirmation effort for Delaney. Shaheen had previously supported Prout and called her campaign for sexual assault prevention on school campuses “Standing up for Prout”. “brave.”

Durbin has not yet stated if he would vote for Delaney’s nomination. “there have been some important issues raised” Concerning his conduct. Durbin stated, however, that Delaney was his true friend “needs to be treated fairly.”

On Thursday, the Prout Family attended the judiciary hearing and told The Washington Free Beacon Their presence was a service “as a reminder that the voices of survivors need to be heard.” Chessy Prout wrote an opinion piece in The Boston Globe The following was published earlier in the month: “I know Michael Delaney. After what he did, he doesn’t deserve to be a judge.”