Outrage Explodes After Senate Republicans Cling To Old Rules, Save Notorious Dems

A federal judge’s decision to toss the indictments against former FBI boss James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James has exposed an embarrassing failure on Capitol Hill, where Senate Republicans clung to a dusty procedural tradition that wound up blowing up two high-profile cases.

The ruling rested on the Senate’s use of the “blue slip” custom, a nearly century-old courtesy that lets home-state senators block federal nominees. Instead of scrapping what critics say has become a partisan choke point, Republicans — led by Sen. Chuck Grassley — stuck to the practice and watched it boomerang.

Grassley’s refusal to move past the blue slip stalled the confirmation of Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-picked prosecutor who led both cases. Because Halligan was never confirmed, the judge ruled she couldn’t legally handle the prosecutions, leaving the Justice Department sidelined by Senate inertia rather than the strength of the evidence.

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee during a hearing in the Hart Senate Office building on June 8, 2017, in Washington, DC.

The indictments were tossed “without prejudice,” meaning the feds could try again. But the damage was done. The move reinforced doubts inside conservative circles about whether GOP leadership is willing to fight as aggressively as their opponents.

Conservatives like Eric Daugherty blasted Republicans for letting a procedural courtesy derail accountability for political heavyweights. His criticism echoed a growing frustration that, by honoring traditions their rivals ignore, Senate Republicans keep tripping over their own feet.

Retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn sharpened that point, arguing the issue was never the evidence but the tactics used to bottleneck the prosecutions. His comments fed the belief on the right that Democrats exploit every angle, while Republicans cling to norms that cost them.

The fallout extends beyond these cases. Dozens of judicial picks remain stuck thanks to the blue slip logjam, slowing federal law enforcement efforts and leaving key investigations without confirmed leadership. Halligan’s blocked confirmation, viewed by supporters as key to probing misconduct tied to the Trump-Russia saga, underscored those concerns.

Grassley’s determination to preserve the rule amid pressure to scrap it has exposed a deep rift in the GOP: preserve the old ways or play the same hardball Democrats have mastered.

Meanwhile, Comey and James have used the court fights to cast themselves as targets of political revenge. Letitia James has called the investigations partisan, and Comey has argued that the scrutiny mirrors campaign attacks rather than genuine legal oversight — a narrative that only muddies the debate over what real accountability should look like.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>