McConnell Will “Absolutely” Fill Next SCOTUS Vacancy

Reuters reports:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pledged Tuesday that Republicans would fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2019 or 2020, arguing the dynamic is different now than when the party held open a seat in 2016.

Asked during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt if Republicans would support filing a vacancy on the Supreme Court in 2019 or 2020, McConnell said “absolutely.” McConnell has earned fierce pushback for blocking Merrick Garland, President Obama’s final Supreme Court nominee, from getting a hearing or a vote.

But he’s said that Republicans would fill a vacancy ahead of the 2020 presidential election. He has argued that there was a divided government in 2016, but there would not be in 2019 or 2020 because Republicans control both the Senate and White House.