Sen. John Kennedy said Thursday that he thinks federal appellate court nominee Adeel Mangi has zero chances of confirmation in the Senate after Sen.shortly after Manchin said he would oppose Mangi’s nomination, a move that could dash Biden’s hopes of confirming the first Muslim American to a federal appellate court.
Manchin’s decision spells trouble for Mangi’s prospects after Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said in a statement on Tuesday that she “cannot support this nominee.” No Republicans have yet signaled they intend to support Mangi’s confirmation; given the Democrats’ thin 51-49 majority and the opposition of Manchin and Cortez Masto, Mangi will now need some level of GOP support to get confirmed.
The nominee also serves as an advisory board member of the Alliance of Families for Justice. Kathy Boudin, one of AFJ’s founding board members, pleaded guilty to felony murder for her role in a Brink’s armored truck robbery that resulted in the death of two police officers in 1981. Cortez Masto cited Mangi’s affiliation with that group when announcing her decision not to back Biden’s appellate court pick.
Republicans have also highlighted letters from law enforcement organizations elevating concerns about Mangi, in addition to revealing his prior membership on a controversial advisory board at Rutgers. During a Dec.