Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., a centrist Democrat and a leading advocate for President Trump’s agenda in Congress, urged all of his colleagues Tuesday night to “put partisan politics aside” and allow a full vetting of Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Manchin, who earlier Tuesday called on his colleagues not to launch a filibuster attempt against Trump’s choice for the high court, said the Senate has a responsibility to fully evaluate Gorsuch’s nomination and to “do our jobs as elected officials.”
“The Senate should hold committee hearings; senators should meet with him, we should debate his qualifications on the Senate floor and cast whatever vote we believe he deserves,” Manchin said in a statement.
Manchin is the only Democrat to come forward and support Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination as attorney general. But as he reacted to Gorsuch’s nomination Tuesday night, he stopped short of indicating how he would vote.
“I look forward to meeting with Judge Gorsuch, examining his record, and making a determination of whether to provide my consent,” he said. “I urge my colleagues to put partisan politics aside and allow the vetting process to proceed.”
