On CBS's 60 Minutes on Sunday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito indicated that retirement is something that may be in his plans in the not too distant future, which raises several interesting scenarios, especially if the Dems take the Senate in November. On Monday's The Arena, CNN host Kasie Hunt seemed to be pushing for the Democrats to block nominees for the remainder of Trump's term if they win.
First, Hunt asked her guest Rep Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who would be in line to become Chairman of the Judiciary Committee with a Democrat takeover of the House, who his first subpoena would go to, she played a clip of Kamala Harris, helping her push a left-wing conspiracy that Republicans might not seat victorious Democrats. Raskin responded that "in the Trump era, anything is realistic."
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) proclaimed he would seek to block incoming Democrat Darializa Avila Chevalier over remarks she made about using the American flag as a napkin. But if Democrats have the majority, that's a symbolic move.
Then Hunt played a clip of Alito's interview, where they talked about retirement. "It's something I think that, um, somebody at my age has to think about every term."
Hunt then presented Raskin with the retirement scenario, and asked a bizarre question.
HUNT: So Alito is 76 years old.... If Democrats do control the Senate, would you urge your colleagues in the Senate, would you expect your colleagues in the Senate, to refuse to fill a vacancy that might be created if Alito or another Justice were to leave the court while President Trump was still President?
Refuse to bring a nomination to the Supreme Court to a vote for a possible two-year period? Unprecedented and a bit insane. Raskin wasn't sure what she meant.
RASKIN: So if you mean, if he were actually to try and resign right after November 3rd, if the Democrats take the Senate back, so the a-- '
HUNT: What Mitch McConnell did right, where he was waiting for the election.
That is not the question Hunt asked, but she wound up settling for Raskin's interpretation of it.
RASKIN: There would be absolute outrage in the country. If you have a lame-duck president essentially barreling through in a matter of eight weeks, the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice, so a lame-duck Senate can approve and confirm that person. Remember, they held up my constituent, Merrick Garland, for 11 months when he was nominated.
HUNT: So that's what I mean. And if the Democrats do take the Senate and you are in charge of the Senate and a conservative Justice steps down while Trump is still President, should Democrats do something similar and hold the vacancy open for a long period of time?
Raskin responded, now understanding what Hunt had originally asked him.
RASKIN: Oh, I see you're talking about for the next two years. Well, of course, all of that would depend on who he nominates....I mean, if he wants to appoint Donald Trump Jr. a Supreme Court Justice, I am certain that I would hope that every Democrat, every Democrat would try and stop that from happening.
But that wasn't good enough for Hunt, who seemed to be looking for a commitment from Raskin for her proposed two year ban on Trump nominees, but he wasn't biting.
HUNT: If the Democratic leaders control the floor, yes, you would be open to them confirming a Trump justice if in fact that person was suitable or you think they should refuse to seat anyone?
RASKIN: They will render advice and consent according to their constitutional duty. And I fully expect the Democrats to do that....We're coming through a period of massive court packing, right wing court packing by MAGA, by Mitch McConnell, just like they kept Merrick Garland off the Court by denying him a hearing, then they barreled through the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett.
When Democrats get repeatedly grilled on TV, it's often from the left. Why aren't you are ruthless as the Republicans?
HUNT: You're saying Democrats shouldn't use those tactics, even though Republicans have been willing to.
Of course Hunt never quoted Mitch McConnell expressing why he denied Garland a vote, after lame duck Obama nominated him in March of election year 2016. McConnell said, "The nomination should be made by the president the people elect in the election that's underway right now." He was also echoing similar feelings expressed by Senator Joe Biden in 1992, but that too was ignored by Hunt.
The trashing of McConnell and the current Court continued, and you can see that on the video below.
Pushing for an unprecedented two year moratorium on voting for SCOTUS nominees...this is CNN!
