Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) launched into an extended, emotional tirade Thursday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, clashing with Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) over the confirmation of former Trump administration official Emil Bove to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
The outburst occurred after Grassley moved to advance Bove’s nomination to the full Senate without extended debate, prompting Booker to interrupt and accuse the chairman of violating committee rules. “What are you afraid of even debating this?” Booker shouted. “Putting things on the record, hearing from every Senator—dear God, that’s what our obligations are.”
Booker has been a vocal critic of Bove, citing concerns over the nominee’s involvement in controversial immigration enforcement cases, his handling of January 6-related matters, and recent whistleblower allegations.
Among them: claims that Bove, while at the Department of Justice, once remarked that the DOJ should consider telling courts to “f**k you” when ordered to halt deportations.
The committee hearing quickly descended into chaos. Grassley repeatedly attempted to call Booker to order as the New Jersey senator raised his voice and continued speaking over procedural efforts. “You could call me out of order, because this is out of order,” Booker declared.
The incident escalated further when Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) called the hearing a “kangaroo court” and left the room alongside Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). Booker eventually exited as well, but not before leveling a direct accusation. “What is Donald Trump saying to you that [is] making you do something which is violating the decorum of this committee?” he asked Grassley.
In a follow-up post on X, Booker wrote, “What are Republicans afraid of? Why won’t they hear the truth about Trump’s unfit nominee, Emil Bove?”
Despite the theatrics, Grassley proceeded with votes on multiple nominees, underscoring Republicans’ determination to advance judicial confirmations even amid partisan protest. Bove’s nomination now heads to the full Senate.
CBS, NPR, and other outlets have recently highlighted growing Democratic concerns over Trump-era judicial appointments, especially as new scrutiny surrounds the handling of sensitive cases like the Epstein investigation, in which Bove’s role has been questioned.