Mitch McConnell says with a straight face that 'it's imperative that the president's nominee be treated fairly'

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/ABC News)

published 27 June 2018

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the Senate will "vote to confirm" the successor of outgoing Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy "this fall," adding that "it's imperative that the president's nominee be treated fairly."

The comments have sparked frustration from critics, who point out that McConnell blocked former President Barack Obama's nominee for months after the February 2016 death of Antonin Scalia. Obama's pick Merrick Garland was never granted a Senate confirmation hearing, and as a result, the selection ultimately went to President Trump, who nominated the conservative-leaning Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.