In a last-minute twist that could impact the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Emil Bove, a third whistleblower has come forward with allegations against him. The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley, convened an urgent meeting on Monday with the whistleblower’s legal representatives.

The new allegations surfaced through social media channels just days before the scheduled confirmation vote, which could occur as early as Tuesday. “I don’t have the results of that sit-down, but I do know this: All we’ve been getting all weekend is the runaround, so I really have questions about the adequacy with the way the Democrats are handling this,” Grassley commented, expressing frustration over the treatment of whistleblowers.

Bove, previously Trump's criminal defense lawyer and now a top official at the Department of Justice, has faced scrutiny over suggestions that he defied court orders to advance the administration's strict immigration policies. Despite requests from Senate Judiciary Democrats to hear from former DOJ employee Erez Reuveni, the first whistleblower, Grassley denied a hearing.

Democrats have seized on these whistleblower testimonies as grounds to argue against Bove’s suitability for a lifetime judgeship. However, the chance of swaying additional Republican votes seems slim. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have already indicated their intention to vote against the nomination, but without further Republican defections, the confirmation is likely to proceed with Vice President JD Vance potentially casting a tie-breaking vote.

Senator Thom Tillis, a key figure whose opposition previously derailed another Trump nominee, affirmed his support for Bove, underscoring the difficulty in shifting Republican support: “The problem that I’m running into is whether or not people are willing to come out and identify themselves, or at least identify themselves to members,” he stated, highlighting issues with whistleblower anonymity.

Clare Slattery, a spokesperson for Grassley, criticized the timing and handling of the new allegations, suggesting a lack of good faith: “These eleventh-hour allegations, which were shared in advance with Democrats and the media but not with the Chairman or his staff, reek of a bad faith attempt to sink a nominee who’s already received committee approval.”

As the Senate gears up for a potentially contentious vote, the implications of these whistleblower complaints and their impact on Bove’s confirmation remain uncertain. If confirmed, Bove would hold a pivotal role on a court that oversees significant federal jurisdictions including Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and the Virgin Islands.