Senator eviscerates Trump judge nominee in clash during hearing: 'You understand?'

A longtime Democratic senator slammed a judge nominated by President Donald Trump for an appeals court vacancy after he refused to answer a direct question about who won the 2020 presidential election.Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) asked North Dakota U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Mack Traynor, who was testifying before the Senate during a confirmation hearing for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals."Who won the 2020 election?" Blumenthal asked."This issue has become a question of political controversy. I'm a sitting federal district judge, I'm a nominee to be 8th Circuit court of appeals. Justice Jackson, who previously was confirmed by the Senate for a position...," Traynor said, as Blumenthal interjected. "It's 'political controversy' only because the president refuses to accept the results of the 2020 election. I'm asking you as a matter of fact. Who won the 2020 election?" Blumenthal again asked. But Traynor tried to dodge the question again."As Justice Jackson stated, in her responses to questions on the record, it is not appropriate to engage in discussion regarding that as a judge, or sitting judge," Traynor said.But Blumenthal wasn't satisfied with the judge's response. "So you're going to use the same script that other nominees have used before this panel to avoid the question?" Blumenthal asked. "I think the precedent established by Justice Jackson and other nominees is something that I need to follow," Traynor responded."As a matter of fact, who got more votes in 2020? Which of the presidential candidates?" Blumenthal asked. "As I stated before, this is an issue that Justice Jackson and other nominees have been asked, they've not provided a response," Traynor said.Blumenthal cut off Traynor and called him out for avoiding the question — and repeating the same excuses that other Trump-allied nominees have used in previous congressional hearings."You understand why I'm asking you to state, as a simple matter of fact who got more votes? The reason is because the president seeks to perpetuate a lie. You are in effect, protecting the lie if you fail to take an independent position as a matter of simple fact. Everybody in this room knows the answer. You're unwilling to state it. Instead, adopting a script that has been dictated to you by the White House. You prepared this answer with the White House, did you not?" Blumenthal said.BLUMENTHAL: Who won the 2020 election?JUDGE TRAYNOR: This issue has become a question of political controversy. Justice Jackson--BLUMENTHAL: It's 'political controversy' only because the president refuses to accept the results. I'm asking you as a matter of fact. Who won?… pic.twitter.com/Wzs3XqcgMn— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 10, 2026