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Peter King Calls Out Fellow GOP Lawmakers For Blocking Supreme Court Nominee

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee CREDIT: AP PHOTO/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee CREDIT: AP PHOTO/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

More cracks are appearing in the Republican Party’s opposition to considering President Obama’s nominee for the empty seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Speaking on a Long Island talk radio show, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) was grilled by the host on his views about how his party is handling the President’s new nominee: the staunchly moderate Merrick Garland.

While the host framed the question by scolding the president for making a nomination, King countered by scolding Republican leaders for refusing to give him a chance.

“I disagree with some of the Republicans in that the process itself, the Constitution should be respected,” he said. “I think senators should meet with him. And I think they should also consider having hearings. Not bring it to the floor for a vote, but have the hearings so the American people can see what Judge Garland’s views are.”

Listen:

King went on to criticize his colleagues in the Senate for “keeping their doors shut” to Garland, who he called a “very respected judge.”

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“Nobody’s going to doubt his qualifications,” he said, later adding, “I do believe the nominee should be treated with respect and the president’s process be treated with respect.”

While seven Senate Republicans have expressed openness to meeting with Garland, the vast majority have refused to do so.

CREDIT: Dylan Petrohilos
CREDIT: Dylan Petrohilos