Questioned on LGBTQ record, Trump nominee cries

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A nominee to the U.S. Federal Judiciary began crying Wednesday (October 30) after being questioned over his record on LGBTQ rights.

Lawrence VanDyke has been nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump to fill a seat on the United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit has been a thorn in Trump's side since he took office and has drawn the Republican president's ire for its decisions in high-profile cases.

In spite of having graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, VanDyke was given a rating of "Not Qualified" by the American Bar Association (ABA). In a letter, the ABA questioned whether VanDyke "would be fair to persons who are gay, lesbian, or otherwise part of the LGBTQ community."

At his hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, VanDyke was confronted by Democrat Senator from Missouri, Josh Hawley, on his views towards the LGBTQ community. At which point, he began crying.

He pledged to rule without bias towards LGBTQ Americans.

"I would not have allowed myself to be nominated for this position if I did not think I could do that," he said.

(Production by: Dan Fastenberg)