Manchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election

Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Monday said he would not support confirming another nominee selected by President BidenJoe BidenBiden’s FDA pick clears key Senate hurdle Overnight Health Care — DC ending mask, vaccine mandates American unity is key to a Europe whole and free MORE for the Supreme Court immediately before the 2024 presidential election, clarifying remarks he’d made earlier about the midterm elections.Manchin said he would prefer to wait until the country knows who will occupy the White House in 2025.Manchin walked back the comment he made earlier afternoon indicating that he would not support confirming a second Biden nominee to the Supreme Court if another vacancy occurs shortly before the Nov. 8 midterm election.  Asked if the Senate should act if another seat becomes vacant “later in the year closer to the election,” Manchin responded: “I’m not going to be hypocritical on that.”“If it comes a week or two weeks before like it did with our last Supreme Court nominee, I think that’s a time it should go to the next election,” he said.   Manchin’s comments immediately attracted attention on Twitter after several reporters posted his comments.  He then explained to reporters that he “misspoke” and that he would only support holding up a Supreme Court confirmation proceeding immediately before the next presidential election.  “I was referring to that election, before a major presidential election,” he said.  That’s the position he and other Democrats took in the fall of 2020 after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September of that year.  Democrats insisted that then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell calls out ‘maskless’ Super Bowl celebs as school mandates remain American unity is key to a Europe whole and free Manchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election MORE (R-Ky.) wait until after the election to move a nominee so that the winner of the presidential contest could make the choice — the same position McConnell took in 2016 when he blocked President ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaBiden’s FDA pick clears key Senate hurdle Manchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election Make some policy love this Valentine’s Day MORE’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick GarlandMerrick GarlandManchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election Anxious Democrats want Biden to speed up vetting for Supreme Court pick American Airlines flight makes emergency landing due to ‘unruly’ passenger MORE from getting a Senate hearing or vote.  Manchin was outspoken in opposing McConnell’s plan to speed President TrumpDonald TrumpRubio on White House records at Mar-a-Lago: ‘It’s not a crime, I don’t believe’ Overnight Health Care — DC ending mask, vaccine mandates On The Money — Biden’s inflation boogeymen MORE’s third Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney BarrettAmy Coney BarrettManchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election Trump says he could have ousted ‘atrocious’ Susan Collins in 2020 Anxious Democrats want Biden to speed up vetting for Supreme Court pick MORE, through the Senate confirmation process before the 2020 presidential election.  “Rushing to confirm a Supreme Court nominee weeks before a presidential election has never been done before in the history of our nation and it will only fan the flames of division at a time when our country is deeply divided,” he said at the time.  “I cannot support a process that risks further division of the American people at a time when we desperately need to come together. I will not vote to confirm Judge Coney Barrett or any Supreme Court nominee before Election Day on November 3rd. I urge my Republican friends to slow down, put people before politics, and give their constituents a chance to vote.” Moderate Republican Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsBiden’s FDA pick clears key Senate hurdle Manchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election Trump says he could have ousted ‘atrocious’ Susan Collins in 2020 MORE (Maine) and Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiBiden’s FDA pick clears key Senate hurdle Manchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election This week: Confirmation fight over Biden’s FDA nominee comes to a head MORE (Alaska) joined Manchin in calling for Republicans to await the outcome of the election to let the winner pick Ginsburg’s successor.  Collins at the time cited the treatment of Garland in 2016 as the reason why she wanted to hit the pause button on Trump’s nominee.  “When the Senate considers nominees to the United States Supreme Court, it is particularly important that we act fairly and consistently, using the same set of rules, no matter which political party is in power,” she said in late October 2020.  Murkowski voted against a motion to end debate on Barrett’s nomination and advance her nomination. But she voted “aye” on the final confirmation vote.  “I voted no on the motion to proceed yesterday because I have stated on multiple occasions since 2016 I do not believe the Senate should take up a Supreme Court nomination this close to a presidential election,” she said, explaining her “no” vote on the procedural motion.  Manchin voted to confirm Trump’s second nominee to the Supreme Court, Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughManchin clarifies: He’d oppose second high court nominee right before presidential election Advocates fear Supreme Court’s Alabama moves could weaken minority protections in VRA Will Republicans apply the ‘Barrett rule’ to Biden’s nominee? MORE, weeks before the 2018 midterm elections. He was the only Democrat to vote for Trump’s pick after a bruising confirmation battle.This story was updated at 6:37 p.m.