Trump moves up his Supreme Court announcement as administration readies battle plan
President Trump has changed the timetable for announcing his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump had originally planned to make the announcement on Thursday, but he now says he will make the announcement on Tuesday evening, report the New York Times, CBS News, Politico and USA Today.
Trump revealed the new date in this tweet: “I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. (W.H.)”
Trump said at a breakfast for small business leaders that his nominee is someone “unbelievably highly respected.”
The New York Times says sources have confirmed the three finalists are Judge Neil Gorsuch of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge William Pryor of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge Thomas Hardiman of Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Administration officials are working to pave the way for a smooth nomination process, according to Politico. White House counsel Don McGahn and Vice President Mike Pence have spoken with most members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about potential nominees. White House press secretary Sean Spicer is planning “for an expected media and surrogate blitz,” the article says.
In a meeting to “sharpen up a battle plan” on Friday evening, White House and Senate GOP officials met with outside groups that have scoured the records of potential nominees, according to Politico. Part of the plan involves running $10 million worth of ads, financed by the Judicial Crisis Network, that support the nominee. The focus will be in states where Trump won and Democratic senators are facing re-election in 2018.
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ABAJournal.com: “Meet Thomas Hardiman, said to be a ‘dark horse’ SCOTUS finalist”
