American Republican Senator Mitt Romney said on Tuesday that he was in favor of a Senate vote for President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) this year, paving way for the Republican Party (GOP) to push forward with filling the vacancy before the November general election. If Trump’s pick gets confirmed, it will be one of the fastest such proceedings in modern history.
“The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees,” Romney said in a statement. “Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the President’s nominee”. Despite his support to move ahead with the confirmation process, the Utah Senator has not committed to confirming Trump’s nominee, saying that if the candidate reaches the Senate floor, he intended to vote “based upon their qualifications”.
With 53 GOP Senators in the Senate and Vice President Mike Pence able to break a tie, the Democrats were hoping to convince four moderate Republicans to help them block the consideration of a nominee before the November vote. Only Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have opposed their party’s proposal. However, Romney’s backing gives Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell enough votes (51) to move forward with the process.
The issue of filling the Supreme Court seat is turning into the biggest fight between the parties ahead of the election, not only because it would move the court in a more conservative direction, but also due to the Republicans’ March 2016 refusal to confirm Obama-nominee Merrick Garland, claiming that it was too close to the elections. However, GOP leaders have argued that their actions are in line with both history and precedent because the same party controls the House and the Senate, which was not the case in 2016.
Trump has said that he is considering five women for the post and that he will announce his pick this Saturday. Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appellate judge, is currently seen as the leading contender. Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, who vehemently opposed Garland’s nomination in 2016, said that the Judiciary Committee plans to hold three days of hearings next month.
Democrats have reacted furiously to the Republicans’ actions, and have signaled that they will not rule out aggressive countermeasures in response. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said over the weekend that if GOP members moved forward with this, “nothing is off the table”. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also said that if McConnell violated the precedent that he himself set, “when Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.”
Senate Republicans Secure Enough Votes to Consider Trump’s SCOTUS Nominee Before Election
Despite criticism, GOP leaders have argued that their actions are in line with both, history and precedent because the same party controls the House and the Senate, which was not the case in 2016.
September 23, 2020
GOP Senator Mitt Romney. SOURCE: VOX