BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Republican Senator from Maine Susan Collins said Saturday she does not think the U.S. Senate should vote on a replacement Supreme Court Justice until after the general election.
After Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg's passing was reported Friday night, Sen. Collins called her "one of the most prominent legal luminaries of our time."
On Saturday afternoon, Sen. Collins released another statement saying she believes U.S. Senators should hold off on voting to confirm any nominee to replace Ginsburg until after November 3rd.
"In order for the American people to have faith in their elected officials, we must act fairly and consistently -- no matter which political party is in power," Collins said. "President Trump has the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and I would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee's beginning the process of reviewing his nominee's credentials.
"Given the proximity of the presidential election, however, I do not believe that the Senate should vote on the nominee prior to the election. In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd."
Sen. Collins' statement comes a day after Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said that the U.S. Senate "will vote" on President Trump's nominee, and after President Trump said Saturday that the vacant Supreme Court seat must be filled "without delay."
Collins joins Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who said Friday she would not vote on a nominee for the Supreme Court before election day, since voters have already started casting early ballots for the general election in four states.
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