JD Vance vows to block Biden's DOJ nominees until Garland stops 'harassing' political opponents

Sen. J.D. Vance says he is going to place holds on all of President Joe Biden's Justice Department nominees following former President Donald Trump's federal indictment for his handling of classified materials.

Vance, an Ohio Republican, wrote Tuesday on Twitter that he will halt all Justice nominees until Attorney General Merrick Garland "stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents."

Vance said, "We have to grind this department to a halt," and that Trump is "just one and the most recent example" of the agency targeting political opponents. 

"We, of course, have violent criminals walking the streets after the 2020 summer of riots, and if you’re letting the violent criminals go free and you’re harassing Christian parents for their political activism, you’re not engaged in justice. You’re engaged in politics," he also said. 

Vance's hold does not apply to nominees to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Senate normally quickly approves nominees by unanimous consent, but Vance's hold will prevent this from happening. A floor vote will instead be required, which could make the nominations more difficult to pass, the senator's office said.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.