WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks delivered on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called on the Senate to give due consideration to any nominee put forward by the President to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

“I would submit that the President has a constitutional obligation to submit a nominee to this body and this body has a constitutional obligation to consider that nomination – not an obligation to confirm, but an obligation to consider it,” Senator King said. “Whether or not the Senate should confirm is clearly within the discretion of every Senator in this body, but to say that we will not have the opportunity to make that decision, I think, is contrary to the Constitution. It’s contrary to the best interests of the American people.”

Senator King’s remarks come in the middle of an ongoing debate surrounding the vacancy on the Supreme Court, and whether the Senate will hold hearings to consider a nominee. Senator King has argued that the President, regardless of political party, has a constitutional duty to nominate a candidate and that the Senate also has a constitutional duty to give the nominee thoughtful consideration.

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