Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued Tuesday that the Senate shouldn’t hold a vote on President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee while Trump is being investigated for possible ties to the Russian government.
“There’s a cloud now hanging over the head of the president, and while that’s happening – to have a lifetime appointment made by this president seems very unseemly and there ought to be a delay,” Schumer told reporters.
Schumer declined to say how many Democrats agree with him. “Well, you will have to ask them, but my view is very simple,” he said.
Schumer first called for delaying the Gorsuch vote on Tuesday. He argued that it is the “height of irony” that Republicans held the Supreme Court seat open for nearly a full year to block consideration of President Barack Obama’s choice of Merrick Garland to for a seat on the high court, but are now “rushing to fill the seat for a president who is under investigation by the FBI.”
Democrats are expected to mount a filibuster attempt of Gorsuch’s nomination. Republicans will need eight Democratic senators to cross the aisle and join them to reach the 60-votes needed to break the filibuster.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Tuesday he is waiting to decide whether to support or oppose Gorsuch until after his confirmation hearings conclude.
“These hearings mean something – they are really important. I have a lot of questions … and I’m going to watch these entire hearings,” he said.
Kaine didn’t response when asked if he backs Schumer’s push to postpone consideration of Gorsuch’s nomination.
