Senate Panel Deadlocked On Rollins U.S. Attorney Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. Senate panel is split along party lines when it comes to Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins's nomination for U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's vote ended in an 11-11 tie Thursday, meaning Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must call for a vote to bring the nomination to the full chamber. A simple majority vote in the Senate would appoint Rollins as the state's next U.S. Attorney.

Rollins faced fierce opposition from Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, who has maintained that he would seek to block her nomination since it was announced in July. Sen. Ted Cruz joined Cotton in leading the opposition Thursday, calling Rollins's efforts at criminal justice reform "pro-crime" and "radical."

Rollins, nominated for the role by President Biden, has made clear her focus on prosecuting violent crimes and drug offenses, particularly those pertaining to fentanyl. At times, she has declined to prosecute low-level, non-violent offenses.

Democrats cited the bipartisan First Step Act – signed by former President Trump – which Sen. Dick Durbin said "raised the same question she had raised, where should we draw the line," MassLive reported.

"She has stepped up with good results," Durbin, the committee chair, said.

It is the first time there will be a roll call vote for a U.S. Attorney in nearly 30 years.