by Dick Hall-Sizemore

Todd Gilbert may be having mixed feelings today.

The U.S. Senate has a custom whereby a member can veto a presidential nomination for a district court judgeship or U.S. Attorney in his or her state. It is called a “blue slip” and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has said that he will keep honoring that tradition.

President Trump, using his favorite word for something he doesn’t like, has called this custom or tradition a “hoax.” “The only way to beat this Hoax,” he wrote, “is to appoint a Democrat or, a weak and ineffective Republican. Therefore, I would never be able to appoint Great Judges or U.S. Attorneys in California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, and other places.”

Gilbert was a long-serving member of the Virginia House of Delegates and served as Speaker from 2022-2024. He was known as one of the most conservative and outspoken Republican members. He has been nominated by Trump to be the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. The two U.S. Senators from Virginia, both Democrats, have voiced their support for him. While awaiting his confirmation by the U.S. Senate, which has been deemed to be “as good as a done deal,” he has been appointed and sworn in as the interim U.S. Attorney for the district.