The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved the nomination of Jennifer Mascott along party lines to serve as a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mascott is currently serving as senior counsel in the White House counsel’s office and had most recently been an associate law professor at the Catholic University of America.
Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said he appreciated Mascott’s service but opposed her nomination on several grounds. He argued that her views are “outside the mainstream” — including her support for “expanding the scope of presidential power.”
He noted that Mascott has advised the White House on whether Trump can refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress but would not commit to recusing herself from cases related to the issue. She also would not recuse herself from cases that challenge Trump’s executive orders, he said.
