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(Photo: MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA-EFE) WASHINGTON – Sen. Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, announced Thursday he would oppose a controversial President Donald Trump judicial nominee, killing the judge's chances of confirmation to be a federal judge In announcing his decision, the South Carolina senator cited a Department of Justice memo obtained by The Washington Post that included information on Thomas Farr's alleged role in the intimidation of black voters by the Sen. Jesse Helms campaign. Scott said the memo "created more concerns" and Thursday afternoon he decided he could not support Farr. Farr has denied that he was involved in the intimidation, according to The Charlotte Observer. Scott had voted to advance the nomination. Democrats have opposed Farr's nomination based on his judicial record, which they say demonstrates a hostility to voting rights. Farr's critics say that as an attorney hired by the state, he defended racially gerrymandered congressional districts in North Carolina, as well as a law that would require photo identification to vote. The Congressional Black Caucus and national civil rights groups have strongly opposed Farr’s nomination, citing concerns about his record on voting rights issues and voter suppression efforts. Johnson said three busloads of NAACP members from North Carolina traveled to Capitol Hill Wednesday to lobby against Farr’s nomination. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a civil rights icon, said "the problems this nominee represents are beyond partisan differences. The judicial opening Farr has been nominated to fill has contributed to the controversy.