Trump's Failed Judicial Nominee Who Praised the KKK Just Landed a Promotion at the Justice Department

Remember Brett Talley, the laughably unqualified Trump judicial nominee and ghost hunter? The one who has never argued a case in court, did not disclose that his wife works for the administration in his nomination paperwork, and left a long electronic trail of right-wing political blogging that included praising the KKK? He was forced to withdraw his nomination when all this came to light, even though the Senate Judiciary Committee had already approved the nomination! But don't worry, he landed on his feet.

In fact, he got a promotion, from a junior position at the Justice Department to becoming an assistant U.S. attorney.

In May, Talley made an unusual career move. Though he had virtually no experience handling criminal cases, he is now working as an assistant US attorney in the eastern district of Virginia, prosecuting low-level immigration and drug cases. It's just the kind of entry-level federal position someone aspiring to be a judge someday might angle for. A Justice Department spokesperson wouldn't say why he made the job change, and Talley didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Immigration. Great. It's also worth reconsidering Talley's former position in light of the Supreme Court vacancy. He was deputy assistant attorney general at the Office of Legal Policy, on one of Trump's "beachhead teams," staffed by Trump "loyalists placed at federal agencies in positions that didn't require Senate confirmation, where they were intended to be the 'eyes and ears' of the White House." This is the guy who loves the KKK and pledged totally fealty on his blog to the NRA after the Newtown school shooting that killed 26 elementary-school children and teachers, writing "I pledge my support to the NRA; financially, politically, and intellectually. I ask you to do the same. Join the NRA. They stand for all of us now, and I pray that in the coming battle for our rights, they will be victorious."

What was his job at the Office of Legal Policy? Vetting judicial nominations.

So when Sen. Susan Collins says Trump assured he that he wouldn't ask any nominee to commit to voting to overturn Roe v. Wade, keep in mind who he chooses to have picking judges for him.