Orrin Hatch Also Thinks Garland Should Be Considered for FBI Role

Sen. Orrin Hatch thinks Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland should be considered for the FBI director role, Fox Business News reports.

Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, first floated the idea of Garland as FBI chief.

"He was one of the lead prosecutors who was behind the Timothy McVeigh prosecution in Oklahoma City," Lee said during an interview on Fox News last week. "This is a prosecutor's prosecutor. This is someone who's got allies in both parties as a potential nominee."

Hatch, a Utah Republican, talked with White House officials about the idea on Wednesday. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, who was on the call, agreed according to numerous sources, reports Fox.

A former aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell also said McConnell thought Garland as FBI director would be a "fantastic idea."

"In the conversation I had with him, he [McConnell] told me that he’s extremely qualified, he has experience as a prosecutor, somebody who understands law enforcement, understands action in all forms of law enforcement and he would have Democratic support," Josh Holmes said.

Hatch publicly threw his support behind Garland at a presser last Thursday. "Merrick Garland is a very fine fellow. There’s never been an issue with Merrick Garland," he told reporters. "Merrick is a very fine man. I like Merrick."

• Report: GOP Senators Pulling Away From Trump
• McMaster on Trump 'Leak': Wash Post Story Is 'False'