The Hill reports:
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the Senate will vote in the fall to confirm President Trump’s forthcoming nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
“The Senate stands ready to fulfill its constitutional role by offering advice and consent … we will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy’s successor this fall,” McConnell said from the Senate floor.
Kennedy announced on Wednesday that he is retiring after more than 30 years on the court, kicking off what is sure to be a vicious confirmation battle.
McConnell on Kennedy retiring: “It’s imperative that the president’s nominee be treated fairly.”
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) June 27, 2018
It’s an election year. So under the McConnell rule, it’s only fair to wait until after the American people speak to consider a SCOTUS appointee. #ObviousPoint
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) June 27, 2018
Merrick Garland was nominated on March 16, 2016 — or 237 days before that year’s election. McConnell said that was too close to Election Day for Obama to pick and voters should decide.
Justice Kennedy announced his retirement today — 132 days before this year’s election.
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) June 27, 2018
Now that Justice Kennedy is retiring, I propose we use Mitch McConnell logic, which states that anytime a Supreme Court seat becomes vacant, it shouldn’t be filled until the next Presidential election.
We MUST Let the American People Choose, right?
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) June 27, 2018
I see McConnell is done with the whole “let the people decide with their vote this election” thing for Supreme Court seats.
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) June 27, 2018
Republicans blocked Obama from appointing a Supreme Court Justice because an election was coming up a year later. Now watch as McConnell rushes to confirm Trump’s next pick for SCOTUS before midterm elections that are just 16 weeks away.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) June 27, 2018
McConnell says Senate will vote on Kennedy successor “this fall.” McConnell: “The Senate stands ready to fulfill our Constitutional obligations of advice and consent..It’s important that President Trump’s nominee be treated fairly and not subjected to personal attacks”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) June 27, 2018
These are drastic times. Just this week #SCOTUS has attacked labor & placed immigrants in harm's way. Now, the next Trump nominee could overturn Roe. The Senate Dems need to unite & do everything in their power to block – just as the GOP did to Obama. The stakes are just too high
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 27, 2018
My statement on the retirement of Justice Kennedy.
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new Congress.”
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 27, 2018