President Barack Obama vented deep frustrations with the stalled nomination of Loretta Lynch to be his next Attorney General on Friday during a joint press conference at the White House with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
“There are times where the dysfunction in the Senate just goes too far,” Obama said, “this is an example of it.”
Lynch’s nomination has been held up in the Senate for since Obama first nominated her Nov. 8 amid a fight over a human trafficking bill that includes a controversial abortion amendment.
Obama called on Congress to move her nomination forward, saying that no one could articulate a reason beyond political gamesmanship as to why she has not been confirmed.
“Enough. Enough. Call Loretta Lynch for a vote, get her confirmed, let her do her job. This is embarrassing.” Obama told a pool of reporters.
The moment was a particularly politically charged one during a press conference largely focused on international trade and the Iranian nuclear agreement.
Republicans in the Senate have yet to offer a timeline as to a possible vote on Lynch’s confirmation, and Eric Holder continues to serve as Attorney General as her nomination stalls.
