South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds says the senate should move forward in confirming US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, despite the upcoming midterm election.
He says this situation is different from two years ago, when then-President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland.
Senator Rounds met with the Supreme Court nominee earlier this week. He says Kavanaugh is the right man for the job. He says he expect the nominee to pass through the senate with flying colors.
Rounds says he expects the confirmation to occur before the November midterm elections, despite pushback from the Democratic party. Republicans hold a slim majority in the senate. But Rounds says this time is different.
“In this case, we know who the president will be after the midterm election. We know who the nominee would be because it would be the same,” There’s no reason to delay in this particular case. Most certainly I think we’re going to move forward with it. I expect we will have a confirmation process completed by the first of October.”
While yes, the president will remain after the midterm elections, control of the senate could change.
Rounds says Kavanaugh looks at each case and rule based on the constitution, history and tradition. When asked if he thinks Kavanaugh would overturn or mend Roe Versus Wade, an abortion rights case, Rounds says that issue didn’t come up.
“Most certainly, we understand he can’t discuss what might come before the court. That simply is not being done by supreme court justices today, that’s kind of like making promises as to what you will do. That would be considered to be really unethical and not expected by any member of the senate.”
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard is joining 31 other governors in a letter to US Senate leadership to confirm Kavanaugh to the supreme court.