Ashe: Biden's controversial U.S. Attorney nominee may not get vote | Victor Ashe

The U.S. Senate recently confirmed President Joe Biden's nominees for U.S. attorney in Middle and Western Tennessee but did not act on Casey Arrowood's nomination for U.S. attorney for the Eastern District. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, supports the nomination. She often does not support Biden nominations.

When the new Congress takes office next Tuesday, Jan. 3, Biden will have to resubmit the nomination for confirmation in 2023.

However, there is considerable speculation about whether this nomination will be shelved as the Asian American community has openly opposed it since it was submitted in July.

The opposition is led by University of Tennessee professor Anming Hu, who was prosecuted under former President Donald Trump's so called China Initiative. Hu was not convicted but acting lead attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Arrowood pushed for a retrial. Hu was ultimately acquitted by Judge Thomas Varlan in September 2021.

Hu feels he was wrongly prosecuted and blames Arrowood. He has united various Asian American groups against the nomination.

Trey Hamilton is the current U.S. attorney, chosen by current federal district judges for East Tennessee. He will continue until the Senate confirms a future nominee. With only two years left in Biden's current term and both Tennessee senators being Republicans, it may be that Hamilton stays in his current post and no one is nominated.

Five attorneys have applied for the state Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Sharon Lee. Two are from Knoxville: Judge Kristi Davis and Dwight Tarwater, former legal counsel for Gov. Bill Haslam.

Both are able and talented. Gov. Bill Lee's choice must be confirmed by the General Assembly during the upcoming legislative session. The new justice will take the position Sept. 1.

Matthew Best has announced his candidacy for the at-large City Council position now held by Amelia Parker. His website is bestforknoxville.com.

Developer Tim Hill is also a candidate in what appears to be a three-way contest. Expect this contest to gather lots of interest.

City Councilwoman Lynne Fugate is opposed by former Knox County Democratic Party Chair Cameron Brooks. Democrat Debbie Helsley, who outpolled Glenn Jacobs within the city for county mayor, has announced her candidacy for the council seat held by Janet Testerman. Testerman has not said whether she will seek reelection after her unsuccessful race for the GOP nomination for state representative against Elaine Davis.

The controversy over the Christmas drag show at the historic Tennessee Theater escalated last week with County Mayor Jacobs and State Rep. Jason Zachary criticizing it as inappropriate for minors. A video sent out about it turned out to be partly fictional but incendiary. Zachary also contacted the TBI and said he would seek a state law barring people under 18 from attending such shows. The new legislature would likely adopt it. Will be interesting to see how drag show is defined in this law.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon announced that her husband and two college age daughters were attending. This gutsy move continues the frequent contrasts between Jacobs and her on many social issues. She praised the diversity of attractions offered in the city.

What is unusual here is that the drag show was performed last year at the Tennessee Theatre with no comment. The upcoming "Tootsie" show at the theater has parts in it some may find upsetting.  The same is true for the "Book of Mormon" show. People have the right to skip the show, but this Christmas drag show was sold out completely due to publicity.

After Knox Chancellor John Weaver ruled that Knox News can do discovery in its lawsuit against the city of Knoxville over access to records on the recent police chief search, Kincannon will likely sit for a lengthy deposition in January or February. Other city officials may be called, including people on Kincannon's staff and the advisory committee that reviewed applicants. The depositions might be on video and/or covered by a stenographer. At some point the video and transcript will be public.

Meanwhile, Jacobs will continue to travel Tennessee in his unannounced quest to be elected governor in 2026. He will likely comment often on many national issues.

He will need to avoid neglecting his job as county mayor, for which he is paid over $185,000 a year.

Birthdays

Dec. 29: Retired UT general counsel Catherine Mizell is 73. Jim Ethier is 80. Jeffrey S. Hecht is 70. Architect Randall De Ford is 63. Drew Thurman is 47. Sonny Trotter is 74.

Dec. 30: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is 59. Lisa Jerrolds is 57.

Dec. 31: Fountain city activist Jamie Rowe is 74. Coleen Martinez is 44.

Jan. 1: Former Mayor Victor Ashe is 78. Karen Pence, wife of former Vice President Mike Pence, is 66. Attorney Lewis Howard Jr. is 64.

Jan. 2: Attorney Kyle Carpenter is 72. State Sen. Becky Massey is 68. Beth Waters is 71. Zacarias Negron is 20. Attorney Bob Kahn is 69. Kim Trent is 56. Dr. Don Horton is 71.

Jan. 3: Melinda Grimac is 60. Scott Hahn is 61. Artist Howard Hull is 91. Former longtime city recorder Cindy Mitchell is 64. Arthur Grayson is 89.

Jan. 4: Diana Hall is 73. Susan Thayer is 70.

Correction: An earlier version of this column included an incorrect reference to former Gov. Bill Haslam. We regret the error.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Biden Justice Department nominee could falter | Victor Ashe