Fox News congressional reporter Chad Pergram fired off a handful of tweets early Wednesday afternoon that appear to recap conversations he had with a number of Republican Senators about the nomination of Garland Merrick to the Supreme Court.
A review of those tweets reveals that at least some GOP Senators told Pergram that they would be willing to at least meet with President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Garland Merrick. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) all told Pergram that they would be willing to meet with Garland.
GOP Sens Collins, Flake & Inhofe say they would be willing to at least meet w#SCOTUSnominee Garland.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016
Sen. Collins went even further, saying she believes the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold a hearing on Garland’s nomination, seemingly making her the first Republican to openly break with the party line announced earlier on Wednesday by Sen. Chuck Grassley.
ME GOP Sen Collins on #SCOTUSnominee Garland: I look forward to sitting down and meeting with him.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016
GOP ME Sen Collins believes Senate should consider #SCOTUSnominee Garland: The Senate works best when we follow the normal order.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) told Pergram that they would not meet with the nominee.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) on if he would meet with #SCOTUS nominee: Garland: Oh no. That’s would be a waste of my time.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016
Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) when I ask if he’d be “willing to meet with the nominee.” Perdue: “What nomniee?” #SCOTUS
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on if he’d meet with #SCOTUS nominee Garland:
No.— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 16, 2016
Lastly, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) told Pergram that he believed it is a very important position and he would give consideration to any nominee, however, he did not elaborate further.
[h/t Chad Pergram Twitter; image via screengrab]
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