Hillary Clinton backs ending filibuster, says GOP ‘does not respect the rule of law’

Hillary Clinton on Thursday expressed support for ending the filibuster, contending that the Republican Party “does not respect the rule of law.”

When asked during an interview for The Atlantic Festival’s Ideas Stage if she would end the filibuster, Clinton said “absolutely,” pointing to the GOP’s refusal to vote on Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court in 2016.

“Keeping the filibuster now, when you’re dealing with a political party that does not respect the rule of law, does not even respect the process unless it works for them, you know, witness what they did to Merrick Garland when President Obama had every right to appoint a Supreme Court justice,” Clinton said.

The former Democratic presidential nominee, secretary of State and New York senator said the country is “in the middle of a constitutional crisis.”

“People are still arguing about stuff that is important but not as fundamental as whether or not our democracy will be broken, and then taken over and minority rule will be what we live under,” she said.

.@HillaryClinton tells @JenSeniorNY that she supports abolishing the filibuster because she believes Democrats are dealing with an opposing party that “does not respect the rule of law, does not even respect the process unless it works for them.” #TAF21 https://t.co/wTofUZ5K09 pic.twitter.com/SHyKrNxRbr

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) September 30, 2021

Clinton’s comments come as lawmakers on Capitol Hill are still at odds over the filibuster, which is a procedural move that can prevent bills that do not have a 60-vote majority from advancing in the Senate.

A number of Democrats — with the exception of a few including moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) — have called for the legislative rule to be nixed for a number of key priorities, including voting rights.

Republicans have spoken out against ending the filibuster.

Clinton in April backed repealing the filibuster for constitutional issues, such as voting rights and other measures.

Clinton on Thursday also brought attention to efforts Republicans are making at the state level, pointing to restrictive voting rights bills that are being considered in GOP-dominated state legislatures nationwide and the push to replace independent election officials with people who are more aligned with Republican ideals.

She specifically named Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who refused to change the state’s vote tally despite Trump’s urging.

She said she recently appeared at a fundraiser that aimed to help individuals on the front lines “trying to overcome the legislative obstacles that are being put in the way of casting your vote.”

“But that’s not the new part. Having your vote counted because they want to replace independent people, like we saw with the Republican secretary of state in Georgia who stood up to tremendous pressure,” she said.

“Now they want to throw elections if they can either to state legislatures or, if necessary, to the House of Representatives where the way the vote is counted is by state,” she added.