WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in support of President Donald Trump’s nominee to preside over the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Trump announced a slate of nominees on Feb. 12, including Thomas Kleeh, who is a partner at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Charleston. Kleeh has also been staff counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee in the West Virginia Senate since 2015.
“West Virginia and the federal bench needs judges who are thoughtful, hard-working and resemble a high level of intellect,” Manchin said.
Capito said she has known Kleeh for “many years,” and he has earned respect in his legal and government work. She also read a quote from state Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, who presides over the Senate Judiciary Committee in the West Virginia Legislature.
“‘Tom devoted countless hours, both during and outside of regular and interim sessions, working tirelessly to help us work on the legal reforms that our state so badly needed,’” she quoted of the state senator.