Senate Dem: Trump will hurt Gorsuch’s confirmation by undermining judiciary

“I think President Trump is going to harm both Judge [Neil] Gorsuch’s chances of confirmation and his standing as president if he continues to undermine the independence of the federal judiciary,” Coons said in an interview with CNN.

 

The lawmaker stressed that judicial independence is crucial while downplaying the latest exchange between Trump and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who said Gorsuch during a private meeting described Trump’s attack on the judiciary as “disheartening” and “demoralizing.”

 

{mosads}”This back and forth just makes me feel like I am back in high school,” Coons said. “Frankly, what matters here is whether or not Judge Gorsuch … in meetings with senators and then ultimately publicly in his confirmation hearing demonstrates judicial independence, demonstrates his understanding that an independent judiciary is one of the cornerstones of our constitutional order,” he said.

Coons maintained that it was not constructive for Trump to get involved in disputing Gorsuch’s reported comments, arguing that it would be more beneficial if he stays out of the controversy.

“I don’t think it’s constructive for President Trump to weigh in on this, and to level accusations against sitting senators. I frankly think the more he stays out of this, the better for his judicial nominee,” he said.

 

Earlier on Thursday, Trump took to twitter to berate Blumenthal for “misrepresent[ing]” his conversation with the Supreme Court nominee.

 

“Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie), now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?” the president tweeted.

 

Gorsuch’s spokesperson, however, confirmed that the judge used the words “disheartening” and “demoralizing” during the meeting with Blumenthal.