They argue that Republicans could filibuster the appointment of a new senator to the Judiciary Committee.
"We couldn't do that," said Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who chaired the committee from 2015 to 2019.
"I don't know why that would be a problem," said Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, another member of the committee.
With Feinstein absent, the Judiciary Committee could not quickly approve and send to the floor a slate of nominees that lacked GOP support.
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida expressed amazement that replacing Feinstein's seat could be subject to the Senate's 60-vote filibuster.
Persons:
Dianne Feinstein, —, Sen, Dianne Feinstein's, Joe Biden's, Biden, Republican Sen, Chuck Grassley, Josh Hawley, Democratic Sen, Ben Cardin, Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Lindsey Graham of, Graham —, Committee —, Mitch McConnell, Rick Scott, Anna Moneymaker, Barack Obama's, Amy Coney Barrett, Donald Trump's, Sheldon Whitehouse, Barbara Boxer, Cardin, Schumer, Ted Cruz, Cruz, McConnell, Graham, Scott, Schumer didn't
Organizations:
Committee, Service, Democratic, GOP, Republican, Republicans, CNN, Judiciary, California —, New York Times, Times
Locations:
Iowa, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ben Cardin of Maryland, California, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Washington, Florida, Rhode, Ted Cruz of Texas