McConnell derides Biden judicial nominee for failing to answer basic legal questions

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday had harsh words for Charnelle Bjelkengren, President Joe Biden's nominee to serve on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, after she failed to respond to questions addressing basic elements of the U.S. Constitution.

Louisiana Republican Sen. Joe Kennedy pressed Bjelkengren on Articles II and V of the Constitution during her committee hearing last week, which she struggled to answer. 

"Article V is not coming to mind at the moment was the response," McConnell noted, per The Hill. That article includes provisions for amending the Constitution.

"Sen. Kennedy came back with another even more basic request, 'How about Article II?'" the Kentucky Republican continued. "But this sitting judge drew another blank. Article II wasn't coming to mind either." Article II outlines the powers of the president.

"Goodness gracious," this is something "high schoolers across American learn each year," McConnell exclaimed. 

He went on to excoriate Bjelkengren's resumé, observing that "[a]t no stage of her professional career has this judge focused on federal law. At no point has she ever even appeared in federal court."

The Biden nominee currently holds the post of Spokane County Superior Court judge.

"Is this the caliber of legal expert with which President Biden is filling the federal bench? For lifetime appointments? Is the bar for merit and excellence really set this low?" he asked.

McConnell concluded by musing that his Democratic colleagues only appeared to concern themselves with questions about a nominee's credentials when the opposing party put forth candidates for the bench.