After meeting Garland, Graham stands by Supreme Court strategy
I just met with Judge Garland. pic.twitter.com/gScIsrp8CB
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 20, 2016
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is sticking with his party’s Supreme Court strategy after meeting with nominee Merrick Garland.
“Just had a good meeting with Judge Garland. … I told him that I believe that the [Justice Antonin] Scalia vacancy should be filled by the next president,” Graham said in a video posted Wednesday after his meeting. “We’re well into the nominating process. I think that’s best for the court. I think that’s best for the country.”
{mosads} The senator made the remarks after sitting down with Garland for a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Graham is the 10th Republican senator, and third GOP member of the Judiciary Committee, to meet with President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.
Although Graham said Garland is “honest and capable” and “his reputation is beyond reproach,” he said he still believes the next president should appoint Scalia’s successor.
“Let the voters have a say about who they would like to be the next Supreme Court justice. Judge Garland’s a fine man, but this should be done by the next president,” he added in the video.
Graham is the latest GOP senator to appear unswayed in the Supreme Court fight.
Of the 10 GOP senators who have met with Garland, only two — Sens. Mark Kirk (Ill.), who is up for reelection, and Susan Collins (Maine) — back giving him a hearing. The other senators, as Graham did, said they were using the meetings to explain why they don’t support moving forward with his nomination.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who is running for reelection, on Tuesday said he will meet with Garland next week.
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