Politics

President Trump To Announce SCOTUS Nominee On Saturday

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Anders Hagstrom White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump will reveal his nominee Saturday to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, he announced Tuesday.

Trump has confirmed that his nominee will be a woman, with the leading contenders being 7th Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 11th Circuit Court Judge Barbara Lagoa and 4th Circuit Court Judge Allison Rushing. Trump said he was holding off on making his nomination until after Ginsburg’s funeral.

Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are pressing forward with filling Ginsburg’s seat after she passed away Friday evening. She was 87. (RELATED: Ginsburg To Lie In State In US Capitol On Friday — Will Be First Woman To Hold The Honor)

The move has been met with outcry from Democrats, who are pointing to Republicans’ refusal to fill Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat prior to the 2016 election. (RELATED: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dead At 87)

McConnell and Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, meaning four Republicans must break ranks to prevent Trump’s nominee from going through. If only three break ranks, the 50-50 tie would be decided by Vice President Mike Pence.

So far, Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have confirmed they will not support filling Ginsburg’s seat before the election, though it is unclear whether they would vote against the nominee outright or simply abstain. Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney has confirmed he supports voting on a nominee before the end of the year.