Perdue says Senate should hold off on confirming Supreme Court nominee
Sen. David Perdue vowed to use his position on the Senate Judiciary Committee to encourage the chamber’s leaders and President Barack Obama “not to start this process” of selecting a new Supreme Court justice until after the elections.
“Given our global security crisis and debt crisis, the upcoming election will not only determine the direction of our country, but also serve as a referendum on the Presidency and Congress, and now the Supreme Court,” Perdue said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Perdue joins a growing list of Senate Republicans, including Johnny Isakson and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who have said publicly that the chamber should not confirm an Obama nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. There is a divide among some GOP lawmakers about whether to hold hearings and votes over Obama's expected nominee.
Here is Perdue’s full statement:
"Given our global security crisis and debt crisis, the upcoming election will not only determine the direction of our country, but also serve as a referendum on the Presidency and Congress, and now the Supreme Court.
"President Obama's record of ruling through executive action and regulatory mandates has shown he is willing to circumvent Congress and bypass the will of the people. We cannot allow the President to continue to use the judicial system to achieve his liberal agenda.
"Ultimately, the selection of the next lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court will impact all Americans for decades to come, and I believe we must ensure that Justice Scalia is replaced by someone who will continue his unwavering commitment to uphold our Constitution."
About the Author
Tamar Hallerman is an award-winning senior reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She covers the Fulton County election interference case and co-hosts the Breakdown podcast.
