House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Wednesday that he backs Sen. Mitch McConnell’s refusal to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland, D.C. Appeals Court judge to the Supreme Court, even though Garland has won bipartisan praise in the past.
“This has never been about who the nominee is,” Ryan said in a statement. “It is about a basic principle. Under our Constitution, the president has every right to make this nomination, and the Senate has every right not to confirm a nominee.”
Ryan, like Senate Republicans, said voters in this year’s election should have a say in who fills the high court vacancy, by deciding the next president.
“I fully support Leader McConnell and Chairman Grassley’s decision not to move forward with the confirmation process,” Ryan said. “We should let the American people decide the direction of the court.”
