The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday accused Republicans of failing in their role as senators by refusing to hold hearings on President Obama’s expected Supreme Court nominee.
At a hearing on oversight of the Justice Department, Sen. Patrick Leahy said a February meeting among Republicans in which they decided not to consider Obama’s pick was “not only a dereliction of our constitutional duty, but also denies the American people the chance to participate in the public consideration of the nominee.
“Our hearing today is on the Justice Department, but what looms large is whether this committee will do its job to fairly consider the next nominee to the Supreme Court,” Leahy added. “I hope that we will, for the good of this country and our entire justice system.”
“Americans should be able to see their government in action and know whether we are working on their behalves and keeping their interests — not partisan politics — at the forefront of everything we do,” he added.
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, quickly rebutted Leahy’s opening statement and called his remarks “contrary to normal oversight.” He said senators should expect a “full blown debate on this issue” at a Thursday business meeting of the committee, the first since Scalia’s death on Feb. 13.
Grassley also dismissed Leahy’s criticism of the GOP’s closed door meeting. “I’ve never been invited to a Democratic caucus, and I don’t think the Democratic caucus is open to the public,” he said.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch testified at the hearing. Lynch has said she doesn’t want to be considered for the Supreme Court, but she made no mention of the vacancy in her opening remarks.
