Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerAn end game on Supreme Court nominations Liberals forget Constitution as Supreme Court battle fires up Anti-Trump protesters sing national anthem outside rally MORE (N.Y.) said Wednesday that it would be the “height of hypocrisy” for Republicans to vote on a nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy before the November midterm elections.
Schumer said that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGraham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Trump says he's close to making final Supreme Court decision An end game on Supreme Court nominations MORE (R-Ky.) should show consistency and respect for his own precedent by delaying Senate confirmation proceedings for Kennedy's successor until 2019, when a new Congress is seated.
“Millions of people are just months away from determining the senators who should vote to confirm or reject the president’s nominee and their voices deserve to be heard,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
He said “anything by that would be the absolute height of hypocrisy.”
Schumer: "Our Republican colleagues in the Senate should follow the rule they set in 2016: Not to consider a Supreme Court justice in an election year." (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/GC3JcxFUp7
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 27, 2018
McConnell announced moments before that he plans for the Senate to vote in the fall on President Trump
Donald John TrumpMichelle Wolf in July Fourth salute: 'God bless abortions and God bless America' Graham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker MORE’s next Supreme Court nominee.
McConnell kept the late Justice Antonin Scalia's seat vacant for more than a year after he died in February 2016.
The GOP leader blocked a hearing and vote on Merrick Garland
Merrick Brian GarlandGraham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Supreme Court talk dominates Sunday shows as Trump nears decision McConnell pushing Trump toward 2 potential Supreme Court picks: report MORE, President Obama’s nominee at the time, arguing that voters should weigh in during the 2016 presidential election on the ideological balance of the high court.
The move allowed Trump to nominate now-Justice Neil Gorsuch to the court shortly after taking office in 2017.
