PresidentĀ 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.
āNo, I didnāt. I just didnāt think it would be appropriate and Iāve watched over the years as presidents would interview and talk and make a decision on a Supreme Court justice,ā Trump said.
He added, āI was actually surprised. They wouldnāt talk about various things like Roe. They wouldnāt talk about, you know, things that are very important. They think itās inappropriate to talk about them. I donāt know that itās inappropriate, but Iāve gone by that custom.ā
Watch his comments below:
Trump announced Barrettās 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 āwritten track recordā 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.
āThis 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,ā House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters he would not meet with Barrett.
āNo, because I believe first, that the whole process has been illegitimate,ā Schumer said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) expects the Senate will confirm Barrett by the end of October.
āSo weāll start on Oct. 12, and more than half of the Supreme Court justices who have had hearings were done within 16 days or less,ā Graham said.