[JURIST] US Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) [official website] promised Sunday that US United Nations Ambassador John Bolton [official profile] would face a difficult fight in his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing. Last summer, President Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process and appointed Bolton during the Senate's summer recess [JURIST report], despite Senate Democrat opposition that had stalled debate on Bolton's confirmation [JURIST report]. Bolton's recess appointment [CRS backgrounder, PDF] will only remain valid until the current congressional session ends in January. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee [official website] will hold a new confirmation hearing [committee materials] for Bolton on Thursday.

Dodd, who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, appeared on CNN's Late Edition [transcript] Sunday and reiterated last year's concerns that Bolton lacks credibility [JURIST report] to serve as the Ambassador to the UN, adding that Bolton's tenure as ambassador has "polarized the situation." Republicans have mustered 55 votes in support of Bolton, but will need 60 votes to confirm Bolton. Reuters has more.