Donald Trump just fired back at his predecessor Barack Obama after he released a statement saying that the current president should not fill the Supreme Court vacancy that has come about following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In a tribute to Ginsburg after her death on Friday, Obama indicated that her Supreme Court seat should be left open until after the election in the spirit of “consistency.”
Obama wrote:
Four and a half years ago, when Republicans refused to hold a hearing or an up-or-down vote on Merrick Garland, they invented the principle that the Senate shouldn’t fill an open seat on the Supreme Court before a new president was sworn in.
A basic principle of the law — and of everyday fairness — is that we apply rules with consistency, and not based on what’s convenient or advantageous in the moment. The rule of law, the legitimacy of our courts, the fundamental workings of our democracy all depend on that basic principle.
Trump fired back on Saturday after a reporter asked him about Obama’s remarks.
“Sir, President Obama’s pick in 2016, Merrick Garland, didn’t get a chance to move forward. That was an election year. Why should your pick get a chance to move forward in an election year?” the reporter asked.
“Well, that’s called ‘the consequences of losing an election.’ He lost the election. He didn’t have the votes,” Trump responded. “When you lose elections, sometimes things don’t work out well.”
Trump asked about Obama/Garland precedent:
"That's called the consequences of losing an election. He lost the election he didn't have the votes, when you lose elections some times things don't turn out well."
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) September 19, 2020
Trump has been open about the fact that he and the Republican-controlled Senate fully intend to move forward with filling Ginsburg’s seat as soon as possible. Trump has also been respectful to Ginsburg in the wake of her passing at the age of 87, paying tribute to her after her death.
“She led an amazing life. What else can you say?” President Donald Trump said Friday night after hearing of her death. “She was an amazing woman whether you agree or not she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life.”
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