Schumer Says ‘Hypocrisy’ to Vote on Supreme Court Justice Before Midterm

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says it would be the “height of hypocrisy” for the Senate to vote on a new Supreme Court justice before the November midterm elections.

Schumer noted that Senate Republicans in 2016 refused to consider then-President Barack Obama’s court nominee, Merrick Garland, during the election year, leaving the seat vacant for President Donald Trump’s nominee of Neil Gorsuch in 2017.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell had blocked Garland’s nomination on the grounds that 2016 was a presidential election year, and the new president should have the opportunity to pick a justice.

Schumer said Wednesday the opening on the court from Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement is “the most important Supreme Court” vacancy in at least a generation. He said the voices of millions of Americans heading to the polls this fall “deserve to be heard.”