A large group of Democratic senators will be leaving Washington, D.C., this week to attend fundraisers on the West Coast at a time when a score of Trump nominees remain in limbo, according to invites for the event obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
As the Senate continues to delay confirmation votes, several senators will attend the Women on the Road 2018 fundraiser held in separate locations across the United States.
At least nine female senators are slated to attend the fundraisers, which will be held in California and Washington state beginning later this week, according to the invitations. Tickets for the event range from $1,000 for a single ticket to a brunch, to $50,000 for four tickets to a special reception, and another six for the brunch event.
The Democratic senators will attend the fundraisers amid mounting calls from Trump administration officials for Congress to confirm key appointees who have been languishing on the legislative docket for some time, endangering U.S. foreign and national security priorities.
On Friday, during a fundraiser in Menlo Park, outside San Francisco, Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) will make an appearance, according to the invitation.
On Saturday, in Seattle, Washington, Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell, (Wash.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and Patty Murray (Wash.) are scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the private home of donors Sonya and Tom Campion, according to the invitation.
A third fundraiser organized by Women on the Road will be held in Los Angeles.
"The Women's Senate Network was established in 2001 by Senator Debbie Stabenow to keep its supporters informed of the impact that Democratic women senators have in the United States Senate," according to information provided on the event invitation. "Through this program, the DSCC [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] builds support from women across the country and helps strengthen their commitment to electing more Democrats, and ultimately more women, to the United States Senate."
"For the past several cycles, the DSCC's Women's Senate Network has organized a three-city fly-around, with events in Seattle, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles, celebrating our Democratic women senators and candidates," according to the invite.
As the fundraiser takes place, key Trump administration nominees such as Richard Grenell, Trump's pick as the next ambassador for Germany, and a host of others remain unconfirmed.
Andy Surabian, a former special assistant to President Trump and former deputy strategist in the White House told the Free Beacon that Democrats should be focussing on bolstering U.S. national security before attending big money fundraisers.
"It's a disgrace to watch these Democrats continue to put politics ahead of America's national security interests," Surabian said. "It's time for Richard Grenell and the rest of the president's vital national security nominees to be confirmed."
Other nominees still waiting for confirmation include Carlos Muniz, nominated to be a general counsel at the Department of education; Annie Caputo and David Wright, nominated to be member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and Anthony Kurta, nominated to be a principal deputy under Secretary of Defense. The complete list of nominees yet to be confirmed expands more than 20 pages, according to Senate records.
White House allies expressed outrage over the timing of the fundraiser, telling the Free Beacon that lawmakers should not be skipping town during a time when administration nominees are still waiting for Senate confirmation.
"When Leader [Mitch] McConnell adjourns you after two and a half days for the week you are able to fly to the West Coast to help fundraise to make him the Minority Leader," said one source close to the White House.
"I know major Republican donors who aren't willing to raise money for Senate races in West Virginia, Missouri, and Indiana because [Senate Leader] McConnell isn't using the power he has so it seems to not matter if we are in the majority or minority," added one prominent GOP donor who requested anonymity. "The Democrats are controlling the Senate now anyway."
Update 2:08 p.m.: This post has been updated with further information.