Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is expressing his frustration with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and other Democrats for refusing to answer questions on packing the Supreme Court.
“It is bizarre to watch Vice President Biden and other Democrats refuse to give a straight answer on their own party’s threats to pack the Supreme Court,” McConnell said in a statement Wednesday.
He added, “But it is even more absurd for them to try to redefine ‘court-packing’ to mean any judicial confirmation that disappoints Democrats.”
McConnell pointed to a “clear” definition of court-packing, “A partisan attempt to expand the Supreme Court beyond nine seats, so new Justices can be added despite the Court having no vacancies.”
It is bizarre to watch Vice President Biden and Democrats refuse to give a straight answer on their own party’s threats to pack the Supreme Court. But it is even more absurd for them to try to redefine “court-packing” to mean any judicial confirmation that disappoints Democrats. pic.twitter.com/RpZbaXNO2m
— U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) October 14, 2020
McConnell mentioned Biden’s remarks about the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Biden said confirming her would be “not constitutional.”
McConnell noted Politifact rated his claim as “false.”
He recognized the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg opposed packing the court by saying “nine seems to be a good number.”
According to McConnell, “huge majorities” of Americans oppose packing the court.
Last year, Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said she was “absolutely open” to packing the court.
McConnell criticized Biden for telling Americans they would have to wait until after the election to know his opinion on the matter.
“Even after Senate Democrats badger Judge Barrett to improperly pre-judge hypothetical cases, their own presidential nominee says voters must elect him before they get to find out what he believes,” McConnell said.
He acknowledged throughout Biden’s career, he opposed packing the court.
“The only reason to duck, dodge, and obfuscate if the far left is now calling the shots. The only reason for his abuse of language is to set up an abuse of power,” McConnell said.
