March 25, 2026judicialjudicial nominationselection legitimacysenate oversightjudiciaryelectionssenate
Sheria Clarke refuses to answer who won 2020 election at Senate hearing
On March 25, 2026, Sheria Akins Clarke appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and declined to say that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election when Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked Trump judicial nominees the question directly. Clarke also avoided a direct judgment on January 6 by citing ongoing litigation. The hearing made election legitimacy a live test for a lifetime judicial nominee and gave senators a record to weigh before the committee and floor votes (Senate Judiciary hearing notice; Blumenthal release; South Carolina Public Radio; Alliance for Justice; Clarke QFR responses).
Sources
Grassley Opens Senate Judiciary Nominations HearingTrump Judicial Nominees Refuse to Answer Blumenthal Question: Who Won the 2020 Election?Sheria Clarke faces Senate Judiciary Committee, seeks confirmation as U.S. District Judge for SCSheria ClarkeQuestions for the Record Responses: Sheria Akins Clarke