Dem senator says Supreme Court vote could be 'career ending' for lawmakers
By Emily Birnbaum - 07/01/18 02:34 PM EDT
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) on Sunday said her colleagues' votes on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee could be a "career-ending move."
“I think that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle know that this vote could be one of the key votes of their entire career,†Cantwell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.†“And they know that no matter what spin comes out of the White House, if they vote for somebody who’s going to change precedent, it could be a career-ending move."
Cantwell's speculation comes days after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the bench at the end of next month. His retirement opens up an opportunity for Trump to nominate his second justice to the bench, potentially redefining the nation's highest court for generations to come.
“We’re a 51-49 Senate and if [Trump] wants to throw an extreme conservative who basically says, ‘I’m not going to follow precedent, I’m not going to follow these laws,’ then yes, that to me is a major change,†Cantwell said.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/395082-dem-senator-says-supreme-court-vote-could-be-career-ending