[JURIST] US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) [official website] on Sunday halted the confirmation vote on Attorney General Nominee Loretta Lynch [official profile] until the Senate passes the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 [text]. The vote on bill came to a standstill when senators read anti-abortion language within the act. The provision of the act bars money obtained through the victims fund from being used to pay for abortions. Democrats have said they will not budge until the restrictive language is removed. Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, said [press release], “[t]here is nothing stopping the Senate from confirming Lynch and continuing to debate the trafficking bill this week, except Senator McConnell’s unwillingness to bring her nomination up for a vote.” President Barack Obama chose Lynch as the successor to Eric Holder four months ago.

Senate confirmations hearings for Lynch took place [JURIST report] in late January. Obama formally nominated [JURIST report] Lynch to serve as the next attorney general in November.