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Matthew Peterson, the Trump judicial nominee who couldn't answer basic legal questions during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week, has withdrawn his nomination, a White House official told AP.
The defining moment: A video of Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) questioning Peterson, who currently serves as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission, went viral after Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) tweeted it out to his more than 187k followers.
Why it matters: Petersen, who was tapped for a lifetime appointment on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is now the third Trump judicial pick to withdraw in the past week amid concerns over their lack of relevant work experience and previous controversial remarks on polarizing issues.
Go Deeper: Trump has now appointed most ever federal appeals judges in 1st year; Judicial appointments are the sleeper story that matters.