WASHINGTON — The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee is blasting a Texas federal judge nominee’s views as “reprehensible” after revelations that he once described transgender children as evidence of “Satan’s plan.”

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who sits on the judiciary panel with Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, indicated on Thursday that Democrats could hammer District Court nominee Jeff Mateer in confirmation hearings later this year.

“There’s no question these views cast serious doubt on his ability to fairly enforce federal law and treat people impartially,” she said in a statement.

And Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., another Judiciary Committee member, said Mateer's nomination was a new low for judge nominees.

"Republicans have lowered the standard for federal judges to get ones who will pass their ideological test: opposition to sensible gun laws, hostility to women's reproductive rights, commitment to protecting political dark money, and disregard for public health and safety protections," he said. "One even called a Supreme Court Justice a 'judicial prostitute,' but Jeff Mateer, who calls transgender children part of 'Satan's plan,' is a new low. This is just not normal."

Meanwhile, questions remain over whether Mateer, first assistant to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, disclosed his controversial statements to the state’s Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee.

Jeff Mateer, first assistant to the Texas attorney general, was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill a federal court vacancy. (2016 File Photo / Nathan Hunsinger)

On Thursday, a person with knowledge of the vetting process said Mateer didn't tell the panel about his 2015 remarks in which he said same-sex marriage would lead to polygamy and bestiality. Later that year, he bemoaned that states were banning conversion therapy — treatment designed to turn gay people straight — which the Pan American Health Organization has deemed "a serious threat to the health" of affected people.

The 35-member bipartisan panel of the state's leading attorneys submits recommendations to Cornyn and Cruz. Acting on the senators' recommendation this month, President Donald Trump announced Mateer's nomination to fill the lifetime appointment in Sherman, in the Eastern District of Texas.

Gay rights advocacy groups are calling on the White House to withdraw the nomination. The head of Alliance for Justice, a left-leaning judicial advocacy organization, on Thursday called Mateer's statements "the most disgusting ever made by a federal judicial nominee."

The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT advocacy organization, echoed the calls for his withdrawal Friday. Chad Griffin, the group's president, said the administration either failed to vet Mateer, or "knew his hateful, extremist views and nominated him anyway."

"If the White House won't withdraw this nomination, it is incumbent on the Senate Judiciary Committee to block this attack on LGBTQ people and the civil rights of all Americans," Griffin said in a statement Friday.

Neither Cornyn, Cruz nor the White House have weighed in on the controversy. The senators' offices did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Mateer, a conservative and advocate for religious liberty, also did not respond to multiple inquiries.

On Wednesday, Committee Vice Chair Raul Gonzalez said he was not aware of Mateer's comments during the panel's review, but he added that it would not have derailed his recommendation.

"I trust Jeff's judgment that he would make a decision not on personal views but on the facts and the law of the case before him," said Gonzalez, a former Democratic justice on the Texas Supreme Court. He added that Mateer is a personal friend.

Committee Chair David Prichard did not dispute Gonzalez's claim but said he could not reveal information disclosed by candidates.

He also noted that the committee is made up of volunteers who don't have the resources to do an investigation "like the FBI."

"I can't comment about what the committee knows about the individual applicants," Prichard said. "If somebody knows somebody and they know there's a problem, typically the person will bring it to our attention and we will ask the candidate about it."

Cruz and Cornyn accepted applications until Feb. 19 for the 13 vacancies in Texas. Potential candidates were required to complete a seven-page questionnaire that included broad questions such as: "Have you ever been a member of any organization whose by-laws, policies, or activities could be construed as implicitly or explicitly discriminatory in any way?"

Candidates were also asked to list any additional information about their "personal history that could cause embarrassment" to themselves and the senators.

Prichard declined to say whether he believes Mateer's statements are problematic.

"What my personal views are just don't play a part of it," he said. "He's got a First Amendment right to express his views, and then those are going to come under scrutiny — as they should."

Mateer was among five picks named by Trump on Sept. 7 for vacant federal trial court posts in Texas, and one of two who had worked at First Liberty Institute— a conservative law firm focused on bringing forward religious liberty cases and known as Liberty Institute before 2016.

While serving as First Liberty Institute's general counsel, Mateer won several major Texas cases. Among them, a case out of Kountze High School in East Texas that involved an effort by school administrators to bar cheerleaders from displaying religious-themed banners at football games. The group represented the cheerleaders.

Kelly Shackelford, the institute's CEO and a member of the judicial evaluation committee, did not return requests for comment.

Matthew Kacsmaryk, now serving as First Liberty's deputy general counsel, was nominated for an Amarillo bench, in the Northern District of Texas.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has not scheduled their confirmation hearings.