“Washington, D.C. – Despite of GOP protestations otherwise, Democrats refuse to retract their accusations that the voting delay on Loretta Lynch’s attorney general nomination is racially motivated. The two-time US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York would be the first African-American woman to serve as attorney general, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged to delay a vote on her confirmation by the full Senate until the chamber completes consideration of sex trafficking legislation.

“Lynch, who was nominated in November, has waited longer for a vote in the full Senate than the past five nominees to the post combined, her supporters say. In a press conference aimed at pushing McConnell to schedule a vote on Lynch, House Democrats touted her qualifications and the bipartisan vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee to send her nomination to the full Senate.

“Repeating charges laid out by other Democrats earlier in the week, several said they believed her race was one reason for the hold up. Rep. Corrine Brown of Florida said: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck and it’s clear to me that there is hidden racism rampant in the House and the Senate. Let’s call it what it is. I mean, I know it’s not comfortable to talk about it, but that’s what it is.”

“Those remarks followed comments Wednesday by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber, who said Republicans were asking Lynch to “sit in the back of the bus” when it comes to the Senate calendar. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus also said Lynch’s race was playing a role in the delay.

“The accusations, which have angered Republicans, come as the GOP is aiming to expand its appeal to attract more minority voters heading into the 2016 presidential race.

Unexpectedly, John McCain stood in Lynch’s defense and slammed accusations that his party requested Lynch to hold off with her nomination before the Senate. “I am absolutely appalled by Sen. Durbin’s comments. The GOP has never, is not and will never use such excuses for any purpose. In fact, perhaps Sen. Durbin should have had a look at his own backyard before commenting on something he hasn’t the faintest idea of,” McCain told Newslo.

He added: “On a personal note, when it comes to ‘sitting at the back of the bus,’ I can say that it is my humble opinion that African-American women should, in fact, be driving the d*mn bus, and not sitting at the back of it. I admire the work Lynch has done in New York and see no reason why she should not be named attorney general.”