Democratic North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, and Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly all rejected invitations to the White House to meet the Supreme Court nominee when he or she is announced Monday night.
“I appreciate the President inviting me to attend tonight’s announcement at the WH. I look forward to meeting the nominee in a setting where we can discuss his or her experience, judicial philosophy & perspective on access to healthcare for WVians with pre-existing conditions,” Manchin tweeted on Monday.
I appreciate the President inviting me to attend tonight’s announcement at the WH. I look forward to meeting the nominee in a setting where we can discuss his or her experience, judicial philosophy & perspective on access to healthcare for WVians with pre-existing conditions.
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) July 9, 2018
“Sen. Heitkamp was invited but isn’t able to attend tonight. She has made clear – as she said to the president in person two weeks ago – that she considers fully vetting Supreme Court nominees one of the most important jobs of any U.S. senator,” Heitkamp’s office told Fox according to a Monday tweet. (RELATED: McConnell Destroys Democratic Opposition To Potential SCOTUS Nominee: ‘The Apocalypse Hasn’t Come Yet’)
Statement from Heitkamp office: “Sen. Heitkamp was invited but isn’t able to attend tonight. She has made clear – as she said to the president in person two weeks ago – that she considers fully vetting Supreme Court nominees one of the most important jobs of any U.S. senator”
— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) July 9, 2018
Donnelly also declined the invitation, according to the Senator’s office.
“While I appreciate the invitation from the White House to attend this evening’s announcement, I declined so that I can meet first with the nominee in a setting where we can discuss his or her experience and perspectives. In the coming days, I will be reviewing the record and qualifications of the president’s nominee,” a statement from Donnelly’s office to The Daily Caller News Foundation stated.
Heitkamp, Manchin, and Donnelly all voted to confirm Justice Anthony Gorsuch, according to the New York Times on April 7, 2017. The three red-state Democrats are all listed on CNN’s list of Senate Seats “Most Likely To Flip” as of January 2018.
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