The GOP-controlled Senate has enough votes to confirm President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nomination.
While two Republicans, Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said they did not support a vote on a SCOTUS nominee, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) announced Tuesday he would join the Republican ranks likely giving the GOP the votes they need.
Romney released a statement announcing his decision to side with Senate Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and vote on a nominee.
“I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president’s nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,” Romney said.
While Romney clarified that his decision “is not the result of a subjective test of ‘fairness,” he does affirm that “it is based on the immutable fairness of following the law, which in this case is the Constitution and precedent.
Despite fears from many conservatives that Romney, who has opposed Trump and Republican leaders in the past, wouldn’t vote for the nominee, Romney confirmed his belief that “the Constitution gives the president the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees.”
McConnell previously stated his intent to hold a vote in the Senate on a nominee in a statement on Friday.
The Senate and the nation mourn the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/NOwYLhDxIk
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) September 19, 2020
Trump said he will be announcing his nominee to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on Saturday at the White House.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1308401190439456770
On Saturday, Trump announced at a rally that the nominee would be a woman. Many believe the most likely pick is Judge Amy Coney Barrett of 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
“I will be putting forth a nominee next week. It will be a woman,” Trump said
