Harry Reid To Republicans: You Better Not Block Us From Replacing Scalia

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 28: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hold a news conference in the Will Rogers Corridor of the Capitol after the House passed a budg... UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 28: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hold a news conference in the Will Rogers Corridor of the Capitol after the House passed a budget deal on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released a statement Saturday night following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia that contained a warning shot to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Don’t play politics with filling vacancies on the Supreme Court bench.

“It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a
year with a vacant seat,” the statement read. “Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate’s most essential Constitutional
responsibilities.”

Read the full statement below:

“There is no doubt Justice Antonin Scalia was a brilliant man. We had our differences and I disagreed with many of his opinions, but he was a dedicated jurist and public servant. I offer my condolences to his family.”

“The President can and should send the Senate a nominee right away. With so many important issues pending before the Supreme Court, the Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible. It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat. Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate’s most essential Constitutional responsibilities.”

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