Judicial Nominee Withdraws After Painful Exchange With Senator

WASHINGTON, DC — One of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role after a video of him being grilled by a lawmaker drew national attention. The video that went viral last week shows Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana stoically question Matthew Spencer Petersen about his relevant law experience. In response, Peterson repeatedly comes up empty.

Petersen wrote to President Trump on Monday and said he will no longer be seeking the judicial appointment.

"My nomination has become a distraction — and that is not fair to you or your Administration," Peterson wrote in part.

In a clip tweeted by a Democratic senator, Kennedy probes Petersen in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, trying to ascertain whether he has sufficient qualifications to become a federal court judge.

“Mr. Petersen, have you ever tried a jury trial?” Kennedy asked.

“I have not,” he responded.

“Civil?”

“No.”

“Criminal?”

“No.”

“Bench?”

“No.”

“State or federal court?”

“I have not.”

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island tweeted after the exchange: “MUST WATCH: Republican @SenJohnKennedy asks one of @realDonaldTrump’s US District Judge nominees basic questions of law & he can’t answer a single one. Hoo-boy."

MUST WATCH: Republican @SenJohnKennedy asks one of @realDonaldTrump’s US District Judge nominees basic questions of law & he can’t answer a single one. Hoo-boy. pic.twitter.com/fphQx2o1rc
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) December 15, 2017

Peterson is a commissioner with the Federal Election Commission and was tapped by Trump to serve as district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He is one of several of Trump’s picks for federal court positions who have come under scrutiny for their apparent lack of experience.

In November, for example, The Washington Post reported one of Trump’s picks, Brett Talley, had never tried a case and had only practiced law for three years.

Photo credit: Susan Walsh/Associated Press