Sen. Bernie Sanders threatened Sunday that President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch will only be confirmed if he receives 60 votes.
“This is a major, major nomination. It should require 60 votes and a very serious debate,” the 2016 Democratic presidential hopeful said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” adding, “Obama’s nominations required 60 votes. So should Trump’s.”
When asked by host Jake Tapper if Sanders supports Democratic colleague Jeff Merkley of Oregon saying Gorsuch should not win confirmation unless he receives 60 votes, he agreed.
“Absolutely,” Sanders replied.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has also called for a 60-vote threshold for Gorsuch.
Tapper reminded Sanders about comments he made during the Democratic presidential primary that the Supreme Court “has nine members, not eight — we need that ninth member.”
When asked if he still stands by those statements, Sanders said they are consistent.
“If 60 people vote to confirm Judge Gorsuch, he will become the next” justice, Sanders explained.
“What this Supreme Court decision is about is whether or not we continue Citizens United and allow billionaires to buy elections. It’s whether or not we continue Roe v. Wade and allow a woman to control her own body,” the Vermont senator argued.
The court has had a vacancy since Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016. President Obama nominated Merrick Garland as a replacement, but Senate Republicans declined to hold a hearing on Garland, who is chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Senate Democrats have vowed to block Gorsuch. Trump told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to “go nuclear” if they hold up his nomination, an action that would result in him needing only 50 votes for confirmation.
