More than 900 former Justice Department employees sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday urging lawmakers to vote down the nomination of Emil Bove, the controversial top DOJ official who formerly served as President Donald Trump's defense attorney, to a seat on the powerful Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Grassley characterized Bove as a qualified nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Virgin Islands. Republicans control 53 seats in the chamber and would have to lose support from four of their members to sink Bove’s nomination if the Democrats all vote against him.