Trump Faces Opposition from Two Republicans Over Supreme Court Justice Appointment Push (Summary)

Additional 2 Oppose, New Supreme Court Justice Confirmation Fails
62% of Americans Say Presidential Winner Should Nominate
Biden: "If I Win, Trump's Nominee Must Be Withdrawn"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Some Republican senators in the U.S. are opposing the nomination of a successor to the Supreme Court justice before the presidential election, shaking President Donald Trump's strategy to shift the Supreme Court conservatively.

President Trump had pledged to appoint a female Supreme Court nominee immediately after the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an icon of the progressive camp, but concerns are growing within the party that even the majority needed for confirmation in the Senate (50 votes) may collapse.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has also pressured President Trump and the Republicans, saying that even if Trump nominates a successor, it should be withdrawn if he wins the election.

According to the New York Times (NYT) and others on the 20th (local time), following Republican Senator Susan Collins, fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed the position that the confirmation of Ginsburg's successor should be postponed until after the election. In a statement that day, Senator Murkowski said, "If we opposed filling the vacancy after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, the same principle should apply this time." Justice Scalia passed away in February 2016, the year of the U.S. presidential election, and the same standard should be applied to the appointment of Ginsburg's successor. She added, "Especially now, with less than two months left until the election."

As defections have occurred within the Republican Party, attention is also focused on the possibility of additional opposition declarations. Currently, the U.S. Senate is composed of 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. With two Republican senators defecting, the number of votes in favor of the nomination drops to 51, while opposition rises to 49. If two more oppose, President Trump's plan to appoint a conservative justice to solidify his position will fall apart.

Politico reported that Senators Cory Gardner and Mitt Romney might oppose the confirmation. They have not yet expressed their positions. The NYT evaluated Murkowski's statement as "opposing confirmation before the November election shattered the administration's expectation to appoint someone soon."

The fact that two Republicans have expressed opposition is expected to be a significant burden on President Trump's already busy agenda. U.S. Supreme Court justices have a large impact in various fields. Depending on their progressive or conservative leanings, even presidential policies are affected. With the presidential election ahead this year, postal voting issues are of utmost concern, and if legal battles intensify, the Supreme Court is expected to make the final decision.

The Republican Party has started internal discipline. According to Politico, Senator Lamar Alexander advocated for early confirmation immediately after Senator Murkowski expressed opposition. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is known to have convened the Republican Senate leadership on the 21st to discuss the confirmation strategy for the Supreme Court nominee and plans to gather all Republican senators on the 22nd.

The Democratic Party has stepped up pressure on Republican senators. On the same day, Biden delivered a speech at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, urging Republican senators to delay confirmation. He told Republican senators to act according to their conscience, saying, "Forcing through Ginsburg's nomination is an abuse of power." Biden insisted, "If I win the election, Trump must withdraw the nominee."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on ABC and, while stating she would block President Trump's nomination of a successor and the Senate confirmation vote, also hinted at the possibility of pursuing impeachment against President Trump. When asked whether they would impeach President Trump and Attorney General William Barr if the White House and Republicans push for confirmation after the election, she replied, "We have the option." She added, "We have arrows in our quiver that we are not discussing right now."

Americans are leaning toward opposing the appointment. According to a Reuters-Ipsos poll released that day, 62% of Americans said the winner of this election should nominate Ginsburg's successor. Ginsburg's death also rallied Democratic supporters. The Democratic online fundraising platform ActBlue announced that it raised $91 million (about 15.8 billion KRW) within 28 hours after the announcement of Ginsburg's passing, setting a record high. It was the highest amount raised per hour as well as the largest number of donors in a day.