DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa Republican U.S. Senator Chuck is pushing back against accusations of hypocrisy for supporting hearings for President Trump's Supreme Court nominee.
Grassley was chairman of the Judiciary Committee when he declined to hold a hearing for President Obama's nominee during the 2016 election year.
He says the situation is different this year.
“In 2016 we had divided government. We had a Republican Senate and Democrat(ic) President. You have to go back to 1888 that a judge was approved under those circumstances,” Grassley told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. “This year we don’t have divided government. We have a Republican President and a Republican Senate. So those are the rationale.”
Grassley’s response is consistent Republican leadership’s rationale for holding the hearings.
President Trump is expected to announce his Supreme Court nominee on Saturday evening. Grassley thinks hearings will be held before Election Day, but is not sure when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will hold a confirmation vote.
Trump's nominee would replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday at age 87. Grassley voted to confirm Ginsburg's in 1993 when she received approval by a 96-3 vote.