Democrats are firing back after Sen. Chuck Grassley urged any Supreme Court Justice contemplating retirement to step down immediately, Politico is reporting.
The website noted Democrats are aghast that Grassley, R-Iowa, would publicly push any high court judge into retiring before the midterms.
Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, had angered Democrats in 2016 by refusing to take up Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court.
And he told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday:
"I just hope that if there is going to be a nominee, I hope it's now or within two or three weeks, because we've got to get this done before the election, and there's generally about 50, 60, 70 days between the time a president nominates somebody and we get a hearing in committee, and then another two weeks before it gets to the floor.
"And this has to be done before the November election. So, my message to any one of the nine Supreme Court justices, if you're thinking about quitting this year, do it yesterday."
His comments did not sit well with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
"There is no principled stand," Blumenthal said. "They will use whatever rationale they find expedient. There's no conviction or principle to this. There's no method to the madness."
And Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., added:
"If (Grassley is) trying to coordinate with the judicial branch in order to pack the court for the far right and to further the vision of turning its constitution on its head. … Then that would be a terrible thing."
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also expressed some concern about Grassley's remarks.
"Giving a push of Supreme Court justices toward retirement raises some serious questions," he said. "And in light of what happened to Merrick Garland I think Republicans ought to think twice. It is a signal that they are worried about future control of the Senate in light of a Supreme Court vacancy."
Grassley later elaborated on his remarks about the Supreme Court justices, Politico noted.
"I'm suggesting to them that if they're the type of people that want (President Donald) Trump to replace them … that they ought to think about retiring yesterday," he said. "Elections have consequences. We could end up without having a Republican Senate."
There has been steady speculation about whether Justice Anthony Kennedy is going to retire. However, he has not indicated any plans to step down.
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