Senate Judiciary Committee reports two nominations after debate on judicial security and shooting outside Capitol Jewish Museum

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday favorably reported two Department of Justice nominees after a tense hearing that included bipartisan condemnations of a shooting outside the Capitol Jewish Museum and renewed questions about judicial security and agency priorities.

Senators voted 12–10 to report Terrence Cole to the full Senate as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and 12–9 with one present to report Guedesus Seralta for director of the U.S. Marshals Service, the committee clerk announced. A third nominee, David Waterman for U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, was held over and will be considered at a later meeting.

The votes followed opening remarks from the committee chair and a forceful statement by Senate Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin, who urged an immediate briefing from the FBI and the Justice Department on the investigation into the previous night’s shooting. Durbin said two Israeli embassy staff members were killed “outside of the Capitol Jewish Museum” and described the attack as “a display of senseless and cowardly violence.” He asked the chair and the Justice Department for a briefing from members of the committee on the investigation; the chair responded, “We’ll have our staffs get together on that.”

Why it matters: Committee approval sends nominees to the full Senate for confirmation and signals how senators view nominees’ capacity to protect the judiciary and enforce federal law. The shooting and broader concerns about threats to judges added urgency to senators’ questioning of the nominees.

On Cole’s nomination, Durbin and others described the DEA as confronting a fentanyl crisis and raised alarm about recent Justice Department decisions that they said have diverted DEA agents to immigration enforcement. Durbin criticized a reported proposal to combine the DEA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, calling it a move that “would reduce the resources to address the critical goals of both agencies.” He said Cole “refused to take a position” on those issues during questioning and described that lack of clarity as concerning.

Committee members supporting Cole emphasized his career experience. The chair said Cole “is a career DEA officer who worked in some of its most challenging posts” and described Cole’s stated priority, if confirmed, as combating the fentanyl crisis “with urgency and resolve.”

The Seralta nomination drew particular scrutiny tied to judicial security after the shooting. Durbin and other senators described a heightened threat environment for judges and requested more detail from the Justice Department about protections. Durbin said he had explicitly asked Seralta, while under oath, whether he would follow court orders in carrying out his duties and that Seralta had answered “unequivocally, yes.” Despite that answer, Durbin said he would withhold his vote on Seralta at the committee but did not rule out supporting him on the Senate floor if the administration provides a complete response about judicial security.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who also spoke during the nomination consideration, outlined four duties he expects of the U.S. Marshals Service, including protecting judges and investigating threats and their orchestration. Whitehouse said he was tentatively optimistic about Seralta but emphasized skepticism that assurances made in confirmation hearings will always match performance in office. Several senators asked the Justice Department and the FBI for briefings and other information about steps being taken to protect judges and their families.

Votes and formal actions: The committee recorded a 12–10 roll call in favor of reporting Terrence Cole and a 12–9 with one present vote in favor of reporting Guedesus Seralta. David Waterman’s nomination for U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa was listed for the first time and held over for a future vote.

Background and context: Senators cited national hate-crime statistics and recent domestic developments to frame the urgency of judicial protection. Durbin referenced FBI hate-crime data and the increase in anti-Jewish incidents since October 2023; the committee did not vote on any additional legislation at the hearing.

What’s next: The two favorably reported nominations proceed to the full Senate for consideration. Senators who withheld their committee votes said they may reassess after receiving requested briefings and written responses from the Justice Department and the FBI.