Biden's Court Nominee Faces Opposition from Both Sides as Deadline Looms

President Biden's judicial nominee, Adeel Mangi, has lost significant support among Democrats and is unlikely to receive a floor vote, raising questions about the administration's intentions.

President Biden's controversial judicial nominee, Adeel Mangi, faces an increasingly uncertain future as his nomination nears its expiration date at the end of the 118th Congress. With just months remaining before the elections, some experts believe the Biden administration and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer may be strategizing to allow Mangi's nomination to expire rather than risk a floor vote that would likely fail.

Ron Bonjean, a former spokesperson for Senator Trent Lott and former chief of staff of the Senate Republican Conference, predicts that the White House and Schumer "are more than likely going to let [Mangi] twist in the wind hoping he withdraws on his own." Already, three Democratic senators, including Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, have publicly expressed opposition to Mangi's nomination, citing concerns raised by law enforcement groups and his association with a controversial organization.

Political science professors Grant Reeher of Syracuse University and Ross Baker of Rutgers University agree that members of Congress are likely to avoid taking a controversial vote on Mangi's nomination if possible. Reeher noted that "having a vote and losing it, due to members of your own party, would only serve to advertise the problems the president is having related to the Israel-Hamas war."

Critics of Mangi have highlighted his association with the Rutgers University Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), where he served as an adviser from 2019 to 2023. CSRR has been accused of antisemitism, particularly in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel and subsequent war.

Specific events have drawn criticism, including a 9/11 anniversary gathering that featured controversial speakers such as Hatem Bazian, who has been accused of inciting violence, and Sami Al-Arian, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Mangi's current affiliation with the Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ) has also raised concerns. One of its founding board members, Kathy Boudin, pleaded guilty to the felony murder of two police officers in 1981. Mangi's association with AFJ has sparked concerns among law enforcement groups.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, has been a vocal supporter of Mangi despite the growing opposition. However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has denounced Mangi's nomination, claiming that Democrats are trying to "gin up left-wing support" for a nominee with "disqualifying associations."

Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, echoed McConnell's criticism, suggesting that Mangi's ties to anti-Semitic and terrorist-sympathizing groups make him unqualified to serve as an appellate judge.

While Biden does not appear to be actively pushing Mangi's nomination, the possibility remains that his nomination could be brought for a vote during the lame duck session before the next Congress. However, experts believe the chances of confirmation are slim, given the opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.

The opposition to Mangi's nomination underscores the challenges faced by the Biden administration in navigating a divided Congress and balancing political considerations with the qualifications of judicial nominees. As the deadline for Mangi's nomination approaches, the administration faces a choice between withdrawing the nomination or risking a high-profile defeat that could further damage its political standing.