Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell phoned President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon to tell him he would not hold a “perfunctory” meeting with him in person because the Senate will not consider his nomination.
President Obama has been phoning lawmakers, including Republicans, asking them to meet in person with Merrick Garland, who is the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Obama announced his nomination to the high court on Wednesday morning.
Some Republicans say they will meet with Garland in person, but most Republicans, including GOP leaders, say they have no plans for sit-downs with Garland.
McConnell said the Senate won’t consider the nomination and will instead wait until the next president is sworn in and chooses a nominee.
“Rather than put Judge Garland through more unnecessary political routines orchestrated by the White House, the leader decided it would be more considerate of the nominee’s time to speak with him today by phone,” McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said. “The leader reiterated his position that the American people will have a voice in this vacancy and that the Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the person the next president nominates. And since the Senate will not be acting on this nomination, he would not be holding a perfunctory meeting, but he wished Judge Garland well.”
The call occured after the White House “reached out to Senate and Judiciary Committee leadership … to set up introductory meetings,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz said.
Garland also spoke by phone to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, who said he is willing to meet with Garland in person.
“This morning, after being notified of the Supreme Court nomination, Chairman Grassley agreed to take a call from Judge Garland,” an aide said. “Chairman Grassley congratulated Judge Garland and reiterated the position of the Senate majority, that it will give the American people a voice and an opportunity this year to debate the role of the Supreme Court in our system of government. Senator Grassley will reiterate the position again if an in-person meeting is scheduled.”
