The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Blumenthal: This is ‘a critical time for our democracy’
Senator says Supreme Court nominees by Federalist Society won’t get his vote
NEW HAVEN — Sen. Richard Blumenthal, told an enthusiastic crowd at a town meeting Saturday, that he will not vote for any Supreme Court nominee selected by the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation, calling them “fringe, right-wing groups.”
“We are here at truly a critical time for our democracy. We are in a five-alarm fire for our great country ... and for our democracy,” he told about 100 people who came to the Betsy Ross Magnet School from around the state.
Blumenthal said the nominee will be the swing vote to overturn legalized abortion, as well as to dismantle protections under the Affordable Care Act, including coverage of pre-existing conditions.
He said President Donald Trump’s choice will turn back the clock on voter rights, worker rights, civil rights and gay rights.
“The president has allowed himself to be pushed around by these fringe right-wing groups and he has outsourced his decision to them,” Blumenthal said.
The senator said if Roe v. Wade is overturned, women seeking an abortion will be subject to criminal prosecution, as well as the doctors. He said this would effect the morning-after pill. “It is not just a women’s right. It is a human right,” he said.
Blumenthal, who got a standing ovation from the crowd, said the U.S. should not return to those dark times when abortion and contraceptives were illegal.
“Anyone on that list has passed the Donald Trump litmus test,” he said. The senator said he will not accept an answer from a nominee that he or she will follow settled law, something Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch told him but last month voted to allow union workers to not pay dues.
While Republicans control the Senate, he said the voters don’t want these rights changed. He told the crowd to let senators know their re-elections are in trouble if allow the Republicans to follow Trump.
One member of the audience was highly critical of Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., for not playing hardball with his caucus. He said anyone who votes for Trump’s nominee should not receive campaign funds and should lose their leadership roles.
While much of the testimony was on the issue of abortion, Unidad Latina en Accion members pushed Blumenthal to support the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a rogue agency.
Blumenthal said ICE has certain legitimate mandates, such as drug interdiction and stopping sex trafficking, He said the problem is Trump’s policies have to be changed.
The senator said he would ask the nominee to recuse him or herself on any issue involving Trump’s personal finances or special counsel investigation issues.
He said this would include whether the president can pardon himself or others; whether he has to testify before the grand jury; whether the emoluments clause applies to him and whether he can be indicted.
The emoluments clause does not allow the president to accept gifts from foreign governments without the consent of Congress.
Blumenthal said the president and the nominee know the new justice will face these issues when approved.
The president is appointing the justice who may be the swing vote on these questions, including whether he has to comply with a subpoena.
The main advice Blumenthal received from the crowd is to slow-walk a vote on the Supreme Court nominee until after the November midterm elections.