GOP senators praise Trump pick ahead of confirmation fight
WASHINGTON » Republican senators praised President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Tuesday as Judgeamy Coney Barrett held one- onone meetings at the Capitol, but Democrats said her conservative views are out of step with Americans as they object to a fast- track confirmation before the Nov. 3 election.
Senatemajority Leader Mitch Mcconnell said he was “even more convinced” of Barrett after their brief meeting. Noting she is a working mother of seven children, he scoffed at Democratic objections that the judge would put Americans’ access to health care at risk or turn back the clock on women’s rights. “What a joke,” he said.
But the Republican leader declined to answer questions about whether Barrett should recuseherself if legal challenges in the election between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden land at the high court. One key Republican, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, said that’s “the entire reason” why the Senate should rush to fill the vacant seat — “so that the Supreme Court can resolve any cases that arise in the wake of the election.”
Democrats are confronting the limits of their power as they fight against the nomination and some have said they won’t meet with Barrett, who is expected to be confirmed for the seat held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the end of October.
Ginsburg, who died Aug. 18 at the age of 87, was buried Tuesday in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery.
With Republicans holding a 53- 47 Senatemajority, and just two GOP senators opposing a quick vote, Barrett appears to have enough support for confirmation. At the Capitol, Vice President Mike Pence said Barrett “represents the best of America.” Thewhitehouse formally submitted the nomination Tuesday.
“She’s got a good chance of getting my vote,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, RIowa, the former Judiciary Committee chairman who now helms the Finance Committee.
Ahead of one meeting, Sen. John Thune, RS.D., the GOP whip, said the two were set “to talk about judicial philosophy and background and experience, and also whether or not she thinks ‘Hoosiers’ is the greatest movie ever.”
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, said that barring any unusual developments, “I’m going to vote for her.”