Sen. Richard Durbin
Dick DurbinLawmakers pressure leaders to reach COVID-19 relief deal Congress faces late-year logjam Funding bill hits snag as shutdown deadline looms MORE (D-Ill.) on Sunday addressed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden
Joe BidenAppeals court OKs White House diverting military funding to border wall construction Federal student loan payment suspension extended another month Pentagon: Tentative meeting between spy agencies, Biden transition set for early next week MORE declining to say whether he would expand the Supreme Court if elected, saying Republicans have bragged about "packing the court" under President Trump
Donald John TrumpAppeals court OKs White House diverting military funding to border wall construction Pentagon: Tentative meeting between spy agencies, Biden transition set for early next week Conservative policy director calls Section 230 repeal an 'existential threat' for tech MORE.
“The American people have watched the Republicans packing the court for the past three and a half years, and they brag about it,” Durbin said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “We are dealing with people on the court, packing into the court, with little or no qualifications for a long time.”
Durbin also cited Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: Unemployment gains lower than expected | Jobs report lights fire under coronavirus relief talks GOP senators back Christian school's push for COVID-19 carve-out Bipartisan governors call on Congress to pass coronavirus relief package MORE’s (R-Ky.) refusal in 2016 to hold a hearing for Judge Merrick Garland
Merrick Brian GarlandThe five biggest challenges facing President-elect Biden Feinstein departure from top post sets stage for Judiciary fight McConnell pushed Trump to nominate Barrett on the night of Ginsburg's death: report MORE, President Obama’s nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
“The [Democratic] base is correct in believing that the Republicans changed the rules four years ago,” Durbin said, adding that “[n]ow they’ve completely reversed themselves” by proceeding with the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader GinsburgSupreme Court sees new requests for religious COVID-19 carve-outs Cuomo likens COVID-19 to the Grinch: 'The season of viral transmission' For Thanksgiving, the Supreme Court upholds religious liberty MORE.
Biden made similar comments on Saturday before leaving for Erie, Pa., telling reporters: “Look, the only court packing is going on right now. It’s going on with the Republicans packing the court now."
Durbin on Sunday also addressed North Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Cal Cunningham admitting to an extramarital affair, saying Cunningham "admitted wrongdoing, apologized for it and the campaign continues.”
"He's faced it squarely. I think at this point that's the best he can do,” Durbin added.
Cunningham leads Sen. Thom Tillis
Thomas (Thom) Roland TillisRep. Mark Walker announces Senate bid in North Carolina Grassley returns to Capitol after having coronavirus McConnell halts in-person Republican lunches amid COVID-19 surge MORE (R-N.C.) in most polling of the Senate race, one of several Senate contests that could determine which party holds the majority in 2021.
WATCH: @SenatorDurbin says Democratic Senate nominee for North Carolina Cal Cunningham has "admitted wrongdoing, apologized for it and the campaign continues." #MTP
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 11, 2020
"He's faced it squarely. I think at this point that's the best he can do." pic.twitter.com/0mknVPIE6O
