Manchin becomes first Democrat to meet with Trump's Supreme Court pick

Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) Manchin OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Barrasso to seek top spot on Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Forest Service finalizes rule weakening environmental review of its projects | Biden to enlist Agriculture, Transportation agencies in climate fight Barrasso to seek top spot on Energy and Natural Resources Committee The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC - Dems push McConnell on COVID-19 relief; Grassley contracts COVID-19 MORE (D-W.Va.) on Thursday met with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President TrumpDonald John Trump Trump campaign files for new recount in Georgia GOP senator congratulates Biden, says Trump should accept results FDA grants emergency approval to coronavirus antibody treatment given to Trump MORE's Supreme Court nominee, becoming the first Senate Democrat known sit down with her.

The meeting, confirmed by a spokesperson for the Democratic senator, took place on Thursday evening. Barrett has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill since Tuesday but each of her other dozens of meetings have been with Republican senators.

Manchin was the only Democratic senator to vote for Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Michael Kavanaugh COVID-19: Justice Alito overstepped judicial boundaries Defusing the judicial confirmation process The magnificent moderation of Susan Collins MORE's Supreme Court nomination in 2018 and one of three Democratic senators who voted for Neil Gorsuch

Neil Gorsuch COVID-19: Justice Alito overstepped judicial boundaries Defusing the judicial confirmation process Reinvesting in American leadership MORE's nomination in 2017.

But he's pledged that he will not support confirming a Supreme Court nominee before the Nov. 3 election. Absent an eleventh-hour setback, Republicans are poised to confirm Barrett during the last week of October, just days for the November election. Though other nominees will have gone from nomination to confirmation in a fewer number of days, Barrett will set a record for being confirmed the closest to a presidential election.

"I cannot support a process that risks further division of the American people at a time when we desperately need to come together. I will not vote to confirm Judge Coney Barrett or any Supreme Court nominee before Election Day on November 3rd. I urge my Republican friends to slow down, put people before politics, and give their constituents a chance to vote," Manchin said after Trump announced his intention to nominate Barrett.

Judd Deere, a spokesman for the White House, told The Hill earlier this week that it had extended invitations to Senate Democrats to meet with Barrett, adding that he hoped Democrats took "their constitutional duty to advise and consent seriously and confirm this well qualified nominee."

Deere and a senior administration official confirmed the meeting with Manchin, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

The question of whether or not to meet with Barrett has been a point of contention among Senate Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck Schumer New York City subway service could be slashed 40 percent, officials warn Biden congratulates Pelosi on Speaker nomination Senate Democrats introduce bill to shore up PPE supply MORE (D-N.Y.) and several Democrats including Sens. Mazie HironoMazie Keiko Hirono OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Barrasso to seek top spot on Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Forest Service finalizes rule weakening environmental review of its projects | Biden to enlist Agriculture, Transportation agencies in climate fight Senate advances energy regulator nominees despite uncertainty of floor vote Democratic senators urge Facebook to take action on anti-Muslim bigotry MORE (Hawaii) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) have said they will not meet with her. The meetings are more of a tradition in the Senate and are meant to give senators a chance to get to know a nominee and ask questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings.