A few more Republican senators are scheduled to meet with President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, White House Deputy Press Secretary Jennifer Friedman told reporters on Air Force One Friday.
Some of the Republicans who will meet with Garland are facing tough re-election fights, and are feeling the pressure from both sides when it comes to the GOP’s vow not to consider a successor to the late Justice Antonin Scalia until a new president is elected.
According to the White House pool report, Garland is scheduled Tuesday to meet with Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (who, it was previously reported, will meet with Garland over breakfast), Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Pat Toomey (R-PA).
Wednesday Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) will meet Garland, as will Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
Thursday Garland will meet with Republican Sens. Rob Portman (OH) and Jeff Flake (AZ), who is also a member of the Judiciary Committee. Democratic Sens. Michael Bennett (CO) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) will also meet with Garland Thursday.
Some of the conservative legal activists pushing for Republicans to blockade Obama’s SCOTUS nominee have dismissed the idea that the in-person meetings were a sign that Republicans were wavering. Other conservative groups, namely FreedomWorks, have warned that Republicans “are playing with fire” by meeting with Garland.
