Brewer says McCain won’t resign as Senate moves to confirm Kavanaugh
Jul 11, 2018, 6:22 PM
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh listens to Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on Capitol Hill in Washington, during a meeting Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
PHOENIX — As the Senate moves to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, the attendance of one senator is still up in the air: U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
Republicans are facing a narrow majority — 51-49, including two independents who caucus with the Democrats — in order to appoint President Donald Trump’s nominee and McCain’s absence could hinder that process.
While one national political analyst said McCain, who has been in Arizona since late last year battling brain cancer, may be willing to give up his seat if it would help Kavanaugh be confirmed, another Arizona lawmaker has different thoughts.
“John’s not going to give up and he’s not going to resign, and he’s said wonderful, brilliant things about Judge Kavanaugh,” former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos.
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“I wish that he could go back there and vote because I think that he would fully support him.”
However, Brewer said she does not think McCain will make it back to the Senate in order to vote on the Kavanaugh confirmation.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said. “I’m hopeful that maybe we’ll get a couple of Democrats who will jump on board and do the right thing for a change, unlike what we’ve been hearing in the news.”
Trump announced Monday that he would nominate Kavanaugh, a U.S. appeals court judge, to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.
In a statement released that same day, McCain said the judge’s reputation as “fair, independent and mainstream” has earned him respect among his peers.
“In selecting Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy left by Justice Kennedy, President Trump has chosen a nominee with impeccable credentials and a strong record of upholding the Constitution,” McCain said.
“One of the Senate’s highest constitutional responsibilities is to provide advice and consent on nominations to the Supreme Court, and I look forward to the Senate fulfilling this critical duty through a fair and thorough confirmation process.”
Kavanaugh met with key Republican senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as Democrats escalated efforts to block his confirmation.
Republicans hope to have Kavanaugh confirmed by the start of the court’s session in October.
Democrats, who are in the minority, may not be able to block him, but they argue that Kavanaugh would shift the court further to the right, potentially threatening access to abortion and undermining the Affordable Care Act.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
