Rose, Klinefeldt nominations now move to full U.S. Senate

Two Iowa U.S. attorney’s offices are one step closer to being under new leadership.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley is a member with seniority, agreed today by unanimous consent to pass the nominations of Stephanie Rose and Nick Klinefeldt on to the full Senate.

“These individuals are enthusiastic, intelligent attorneys, and I’m pleased to support their nominations,” Grassley wrote in his statement for the committee. “I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for [them].”

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who does not serve on the Judiciary Committee, recommended Klinefeldt and Rose in March to lead Iowa’s Southern and Northern districts, respectfully. The official nominations were given to the Senate Judiciary Committee by President Obama in September.

Although both nominees are considered well-qualified for the positions, neither has been able to escape criticism.

Rose’s critics point to her role in the prosecution of the more than 300 immigrants that were detained in the raid at Agriprocessors in Postville. Criticism of Klinefeldt, which has been little more than a whisper when compared to the organized and often aggressive effort against Rose, has not centered on him personally, but on the fact that his father is currently serving a 10-year sentence on drug-related charges. In each instance, Harkin has vehemently defended the two attorneys.

In addition to the two Iowa nominees, the committee also approved by unanimous consent the nomination of Kenyen Brown for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

If confirmed by the Senate, Klinefeldt will replace Matt Whitaker, who was nominated by then-President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June 2004. If confirmed, Rose will replace Matt Dummermuth, an attorney recommended by Grassley and appointed by then-President George W. Bush in January 2007. Although nominated by the Bush administration in December 2008, Dummermuth never faced Senate confirmation.

There are a total of 93 U.S. Attorney posts in the nation. To date, including the three nominees today, the Judiciary Committee has approved 24 individuals, and 18 of those have gone to be confirmed by the Senate.