Democrats Warn Trump & Republicans Not to Fill Ginsburg's Seat Before Election
Chuck Schumer and Maxine Waters issues warnings immediately after news of death breaks
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Following the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday night, Democrats immediately sent out warnings to President Donald Trump and Republican about filling her seat before the election.
On Friday night, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) quickly warned Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) against attempting to fill Ginsburg’s seat.
Ginsburg died on Friday night at the age of 87 following complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Her death leaves behind a potentially heated political battle just weeks before a presidential election.
A Trump-appointed justice for Ginsburg's seat ahead of Election Day would undoubtedly throw a wrench in the works of the Democrats' plans should the Harris-Biden campaign plan to contest the results.
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,” Sen. Schumer tweeted Friday night.
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“Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” Schumer added.
The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2020
Schumer purposefully copied the words of McConnell in 2016 after news of the late Justice Antonin Scalia's passing.
This is a direct, word-for-word quote of McConnell’s tweet after Scalia’s death in 2016. https://t.co/2WGE4erZ1L
— Kevin Robillard (@Robillard) September 18, 2020
Although as many pointed out on Twitter, Schumer also made contrasting remarks in 2016.
Attn GOP: Senate has confirmed 17 #SCOTUS justices in presidential election years. #DoYourJob pic.twitter.com/Mdm0P5SRC4
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 23, 2016
Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters was also quick to jump on the situation.
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Waters encouraged Senate Democrats not to “back down” on Friday night.
“Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish was that her seat would not be filled until a new president is installed!” Waters tweeted.
“Senate Democrats, do not back down.
"You have a tough fight ahead but our future is on the line!
"No SCOTUS appointment before the election!!!”
Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish was that her seat would not be filled until a new president is installed! Senate Democrats, do not back down. You have a tough fight ahead but our future is on the line! No SCOTUS appointment before the election!!!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) September 19, 2020
While Trump will almost certainly pick a replacement and McConnell has stated he intends to move to a Senate vote, it is unclear whether enough Republicans would vote to confirm.
