WORLD / Politics

McConnell calls Obama justice pick Garland NRA foe, rules out 'lame duck' vote on nomination

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the chamber just after President Barack Obama urged Senate Republicans to grant hearings and a confirmation vote to Merrick Garland, his nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. McConnell has been steadfast in his refusal to hold a confirmation for any nominee during the waning months of Obama's presidency. | AP

Reuters

Mar 21, 2016

WASHINGTON –

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday ruled out the possibility that the Senate could confirm President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee in a "lame duck" congressional session after the November presidential election.

In several television interviews, McConnell said Republican senators had no intention of confirming Obama's nominee Merrick Garland, even if Democrats win the presidency and the Senate majority in November. This would open up the possibility of a Democratic president sending the Senate a nominee who is more liberal than Garland next year.

"I can't imagine that a Republican majority Congress, in a lame duck session, after the American people have spoken, would want to confirm (Garland)," McConnell told CNN.