Trump tells Grassley to tell Democrats 'go to HELL' over blocked judicial nominees in Senate

President Donald Trump on Sunday blasted the Senate s blue slip tradition calling it an unconstitutional affront to his appointment power and alleging that his rights have been wholly taken away from me in States that have just one Democrat United States Senator The president is referring to his ability to nominate judges and U S Attorneys accusing the custom of essentially giving Democrats veto power over his nominees U S Sen Chuck Grassley is defending the century-old process saying he views it as a norm worth preserving for balance and state input GRASSLEY REBUKES TRUMP'S PRESSURE TO 'HAVE THE COURAGE' TO SPEED UP NOMINATIONSBlue slips are a long-standing tradition but are not a codified law and constitutionally he is only allowed the power to nominate while the Senate ultimately approves or rejects that nomination Trump s frustration with the Senate s blue slip practice isn t new In July Trump called the tradition a hoax and a scam used by Democrats to block his nominees and demanded that Grassley stop supporting them Put just the president of the United States will never be permitted to appoint the person of his choice because of an ancient and seemingly unconstitutional CUSTOM his post declared ALINA HABBA SAYS SHE 'WON'T BE INTIMIDATED' AFTER SENATE CUSTOM HINDERS US ATTORNEY NOMINATIONIn his first term Trump was able to appoint federal judges including three Supreme Court justices and appellate court judges However this term he has only endorsed five in the first seven months Trump went on in his post to suggest he was willing to apply pressure and that Grassley shouldn't acquiesce The only candidates that I can get established for these bulk significant positions are believe it or not Democrats Chuck Grassley should allow strong Republican candidates to ascend to these very vital and powerful roles and tell the Democrats as they often tell us to go to HELL he wrote Trump's comments come after U S District Judge Matthew Brann of late ruled that Alina Habba had been unlawfully serving as acting U S attorney for New Jersey beyond the -day limit allowed for temporary prosecutors and that the administration had been using an atypical maneuver to keep her in the role Trump s pressure campaign could shape how plenty of judicial vacancies he can realistically fill in the months ahead