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McConnell: GOP Would Withhold Consideration Of Biden SCOTUS Nominee In 2024

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the nation could see a repeat of the 2016 fight over a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy if Republicans win back control of the Senate. 

McConnell has repeatedly called it the most consequential decision of his tenure in office – the move to deny then-President Barack Obama’s high court nominee, Merrick Garland, a hearing after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The decision paved the way, the leader says, for a Trump presidential victory, and the ascension of Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett.

For now, McConnell is in the minority. But if that changes in 2022 and President Biden makes a nomination to the court in 2024, McConnell doesn’t foresee allowing that nomination to proceed. 

"I think it's highly unlikely, in fact no, I don't any either party... if it were different from the president, would confirm a Supreme Court nominee in the middle of an election," the leader told the Hugh Hewitt radio show on Monday. 

Republicans did send Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the bench only a week before Election Day in 2020. The difference, McConnell argued, is that both the presidency and the Senate were held by the same party.

There is growing pressure on liberal justice Stephen Breyer to considering retiring while Democrats are in control, out of fears liberals could face major hurdles confirming his replacement if the GOP regains the Senate.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.