Sen. Patty Murray mistakenly identified a newly confirmed Sixth Circuit judge as Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of The Killers, prompting quick corrections from Senate Judiciary Republicans and social media critics.
Washington Senator Patty Murray posted on X after Republicans confirmed Benjamin Flowers to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, but her message used the wrong first name and named a rock star instead of the former Ohio Solicitor General. The slip drew sharp and public corrections from the Senate Judiciary GOP and drew attention for its carelessness rather than the judicial confirmation itself. That mistake has become a talking point about how opposition messaging can backfire when basic facts are wrong.
Murray has held her Senate seat since 1993, which makes this error notable given her long tenure and experience in confirmation fights. Her post accused the nominee of being an “anti-abortion extremist” and alleged he argued to revive an abortion ban, but it attached that claim to the wrong person. The misidentification handed Republicans an easy correction and a political talking point about sloppy opposition tactics.
Murray’s full post read:
“Today, Senate Republicans gave a lifetime judicial appointment to anti-abortion extremist Brandon Flowers. This man argued to revive an abortion ban that would go into effect before most women even KNOW they’re pregnant. Remember this.”
Brandon Flowers is a musician who formed The Killers in Los Angeles in 2001 and later found mainstream success with the 2004 album Hot Fuss, which included hit singles like “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me.” He has no known connection to federal court cases or abortion litigation. That made the senator’s accusation feel especially off target and opened her post to ridicule on social platforms.
Benjamin Flowers, by contrast, served as Ohio’s Solicitor General and previously clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, credentials that the GOP emphasized in its correction. Senate Judiciary Republicans described the confirmed nominee as “highly-qualified” and highlighted those clerkship and state legal credentials that Murray’s post failed to mention while getting his name wrong. The error suggested either a rushed hit piece or a staff-level mix-up that should not happen at this level.
Murray’s claim that the nominee “argued to revive an abortion ban” is an accusation she made in her post, but she did not identify the legal proceeding she referenced. Reporting on the exchange did not produce independent verification of the specific case she implied, which left the claim hanging amid the name confusion.
“For those confused: Benjamin Flowers (left) is a former Scalia law clerk & state Solicitor General. He’s highly-qualified for the lifetime judgeship to which he was just confirmed. Brandon Flowers (right) is the lead vocalist for alt rock band ‘The Killers.’ Hope this helps!”
The GOP committee’s response included side-by-side photos and a deadpan caption that clarified the two men’s identities and credentials. Other X users piled on quickly, with one commenter pointing out that the judge’s name appeared on the placard in front of him during confirmation proceedings, suggesting the correct name was plainly visible. Another replied, “Lolol how have you not deleted this.” Those reactions amplified the perception that the senator’s team failed to do basic fact-checking.
As of the morning after the post, no correction from Murray’s office had appeared, and the original message remained online. That silence allowed Republicans and critics to frame the episode as another example of sloppy political messaging from Democratic leaders. For opponents watching confirmation fights closely, a misfire like this gives them a simple narrative about carelessness.
The Sixth Circuit covers appeals from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, so nominees to that court get extra scrutiny over issues like abortion and regulatory power. Benjamin Flowers’ confirmation added another Trump-appointed judge to that panel, a fact that will matter for future rulings. Instead of focusing solely on the nominee’s record, the exchange now includes the gaffe itself as part of the story.
Across the broader confirmation landscape, Democrats have sometimes struggled to translate opposition into wins, and mistakes like this feed that problem. When a long-serving senator attacks a nominee while misstating his name, the charge loses credibility and energy. Opponents will use that to argue that warnings about nominees deserve scrutiny, starting with something as basic as getting the name right.
