Lindsey Graham Admits It Was 'Wrong' To Block Richard Cordray Vote

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) admitted that he and his party were "wrong" to block a vote on Richard Cordray's confirmation to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as an act of protest, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

Graham and fellow party members filibustered for a full year to express their disapproval of the Dodd–Frank Act, under which the bureau was created.

“Cordray was being filibustered because we don’t like the law," Graham told the New York Times.

He continued, "That's not a reason to deny someone their appointment. We were wrong."

The Senate voted to confirm Cordray's nomination on Tuesday, with the support of 12 Republicans. The vote came shortly after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that he had reached a deal with Republicans on the nomination. Senate Republicans would allow votes to confirm seven of President Barack Obama's executive nominees, including Cordray, provided that Obama agreed to replace two nominees to the National Labor Relations Board with two other names.

Graham was one of the Republicans who voted to confirm Cordray.