Cotton’s Blockade on Justice Department Nominees Raises Tensions

A Republican senator is stalling all Justice Department nominees over unrelated concerns about Black Lives Matter litigation, a standoff that’s slowing usually non-partisan U.S. attorney confirmations and could cause complications for both political parties.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is blocking the traditionally rapid floor consideration of six U.S. attorneys and two U.S. marshals. He is insisting the Justice Department provide legal representation to four deputy marshals who’ve been sued for their role in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon, or give a more fulsome explanation.

In addition to affecting dozens of other chief prosecutor vacancies the White ...