President Donald Trump is following in the footsteps of previous presidents by not discussing various issues with a Supreme Court nominee.
A reporter asked Trump during his press briefing on Sunday if he spoke to his nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, about the election.
“No, I didn’t. I just didn’t think it would be appropriate and I’ve watched over the years as presidents would interview and talk and make a decision on a Supreme Court justice,” Trump said.
He added, “I was actually surprised. They wouldn’t talk about various things like Roe. They wouldn’t talk about, you know, things that are very important. They think it’s inappropriate to talk about them. I don’t know that it’s inappropriate, but I’ve gone by that custom.”
Watch his comments below:
President Trump says he didn’t discuss the election with Judge Amy Coney Barrett: “I just didn’t think it would be appropriate” https://t.co/nDBoCp3tZk pic.twitter.com/3jINhrjMNG
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 27, 2020
Trump announced Barrett’s nomination on Saturday, as IJR previously reported.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and other Democrats slammed Trump for his choice, as IJR previously reported.
Biden argued Barrett is a threat to the Affordable Care Act because she has a “written track record” criticizing a 2012 ruling preserving the law.
If Barrett is confirmed, she would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority.
Her positions on issues such as abortion, LGBT rights, gun-control measures and healthcare have garnered passionate reactions from both sides.
“This nomination threatens the destruction of life-saving protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions together with every other benefit and protection of the Affordable Care Act,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters he would not meet with Barrett.
“No, because I believe first, that the whole process has been illegitimate,” Schumer said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) expects the Senate will confirm Barrett by the end of October.
“So we’ll start on Oct. 12, and more than half of the Supreme Court justices who have had hearings were done within 16 days or less,” Graham said.
