Republican Senate candidate Jason Lewis said the Senate GOP has no choice but to fill the vacancy left on the U.S. Supreme Court by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Ginsburg died Friday afternoon at the age of 87 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. President Donald Trump was in the middle of a campaign speech in Bemidji, Minnesota, when Ginsburg’s death was announced.
“Wow, I didn’t know that. You’re telling me now for the first time,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One. “She led an amazing life, what else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I’m actually sad to hear that, I am sad to hear that.”
.@realDonaldTrump is asked about the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg as he departs his Minnesota rally. “She led an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agreed or not…she was an amazing woman. Actually sad to hear that—I am sad to hear that.” pic.twitter.com/nBsYW7Ytw8
— Dan Scavino🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) September 19, 2020
The president has since called on Senate Republicans to confirm his nominee “without delay,” and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Trump’s nominee “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
In response, Democrats have threatened to expand the Supreme Court and eliminate the Senate filibuster in 2021 should they take back the Senate.
“Appointing and confirming a Supreme Court justice is of the greatest urgency and the highest national interest, and I hope to see it done swiftly and decisively,” Lewis said in a statement.
He noted that the Supreme Court could be called upon to resolve an election dispute like it was in 2000.
“Imagine waking up on Nov. 4 to learn that the results of the 2020 presidential election are in question, with no clear winner, especially given the fact that the left has been encouraging Joe Biden to refuse to concede should he lose the election,” Lewis continued. “Imagine the ruling that is supposed to decide the next president being a 4-4 deadlock. It would be a constitutional crisis without precedent and the Republic may not be able to survive it.”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
