In a blow to President Joe Biden's judicial nominations, two Senate Democrats, Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have declared their opposition to the nomination of Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. With the Democrats holding a slim majority of 51 to 49 in the Senate, a lack of Republican support means that Mangi's confirmation is now in doubt.

Adeel Mangi, if confirmed, would become the first Muslim American to serve as a judge on an appellate court, which holds significant authority in deciding federal legal disputes. However, his nomination has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, highlighting concerns about his affiliations and past associations.

Sen. Cortez Masto cited his affiliation with the Alliance of Families for Justice, expressing deep concerns about the organization's sponsorship of a fellowship in the name of Kathy Boudin, a member of the domestic terrorist organization Weather Underground. She also expressed reservations about the organization advocating for the release of individuals convicted of killing police officers, ultimately leading her to oppose Mangi's nomination.

Meanwhile, Republicans have criticized Mangi for his involvement in the Rutgers Law School Center for Security, Race, and Rights. The center's decision to host an event featuring Sami Al-Arian, who pleaded guilty in 2006 to conspiracy to provide services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, attracted strong condemnation from Republicans. Additionally, Mangi faced questioning during his confirmation hearing related to Hamas militants' terrorist attacks in Israel, leading to accusations of Islamophobia.

Sen. Manchin, however, stated that his opposition to Mangi's nomination stems from his commitment to supporting judicial nominees who have at least one GOP vote. As no Republicans have expressed their support for Mangi, Manchin vowed to take a stand against his confirmation, emphasizing his belief in bipartisanship and preservation of the filibuster.

The opposition from these two Democratic senators makes it challenging for Mangi to secure the simple majority required for confirmation. While Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Republican, has not yet taken a position, her support could potentially tip the scales in favor of Mangi.

The White House has stood by Mangi, denouncing the criticisms as a smear campaign based on his religion. They highlighted his endorsements from the AFL-CIO, the South Asian Bar Association, and a GOP-appointed appellate judge, asserting that Mangi's qualifications and integrity are earning him increasing support. The White House also pointed to Mangi's denial of involvement in the Rutgers Center speaker events featuring controversial individuals.

The confirmation of Mangi now hangs in the balance as Senate Democrats weigh their decisions. With Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging more Democrats to join the opposition and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin defending Mangi's nomination, the confirmation process remains contentious. Durbin has reached out to Sen. Cortez Masto to address her concerns, expressing hope for a reconsideration.

As the discussion continues, the fate of Adeel Mangi's historic nomination as the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate judge remains uncertain, with political divisions threatening to derail his confirmation.