Montana U.S. Senate candidates Matt Rosendale and Jon Tester are trading barbs over congressional confirmations.
Monday morning Rosendale, the Republican challenger, publicized a new website he created hammering Democrat Tester for opposing judicial nominees put forward by President Trump.
The site notes that he voted for Obama Supreme Court nominees, but against Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was nominated by Trump. It says Tester has voted against two-thirds of Trump’s circuit court nominees.
Tester’s campaign spokesperson says the senator did vote against 14 of 22 Trump circuit court nominees. But, he says, Tester voted for nearly two-thirds of the president’s lower court nominees, and for all 18 of Trump’s district court nominees.
Monday afternoon, a Tester press release criticized Republican Senate leadership for its confirmation tardiness.
Tester says a Defense Department official who cleared the Senate Armed Services Committee seven months ago is still waiting for a full Senate confirmation vote.
Tester says the position, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, ensures that American troops have the support, equipment and resources they need.
The nominee, Anthony Kurta, is a retired rear admiral from Columbia Falls.
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