Trump judicial nominee unable to answer basic legal questions withdraws from consideration

Several of the President's judicial nominees have been accused of being unqualified

A Trump administration judicial nominee who was widely ridiculed after he was unable to to answer basic questions on the law when he was quizzed by senators, has withdrawn his name for the job. The President has accepted his decision.

Matthew Petersen who was nominated by Mr Trump to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, was the subject of no small mockery after he appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The video of Mr Petersen, a member of the Federal Election Commission since 2008 but who has no trial experience, being questioned by Republican senator John Kennedy, made awkward watching.

He was repeatedly forced to admit he had virtually no legal experience relevant to the job and had last read important legal texts when he he in law school.

The video of the encounter was posted on social media by Democratic Mr Kennedy asking Mr Peter­sen “basic questions of law and he can’t answer a single one”.

The Associated Press said White House spokesman Raj Shah confirmed that Mr Petersen’s nomination has been withdrawn but declined to comment further