“I am announcing today my opposition to the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court,” said King in a press release. “This has not been an easy decision; I have read many of Judge Gorsuch’s opinions, met with him personally, attended a portion of his hearing before the Judiciary Committee, watched other parts of the hearing, listened to the people of Maine on both sides of this question, and read all I could find on his background, judicial philosophy, and temperament.”
King listed a number of reasons for his opposition to the judge, including his refusal to discuss controversial Supreme Court decisions Citizens United or Roe v. Wade. Additionally, King disagreed with Gorsuch’s opinion in Hobby Lobby, accusing the judge of being a “judicial activist well to the right of the current members of the court, except perhaps Justice Thomas.”
Maine’s junior senator also expressed concern over the millions of dollars being spent by outside groups in support of the nominee.
King, who caucuses with the Senate Democrats, also announced that he will join them in filibustering the nomination, denying Republicans the 60 votes needed for cloture.
“It seems to me that for major policy decisions, like a lifetime appointment, it is not unreasonable to require 60 votes in order to garner broader, more sustainable bipartisan support, which I think is in the interest of the nation,” said King.
Republicans, however, have the opportunity to use the “nuclear option,” which changes Senate rules and allows them to have an up-or-down vote on Gorsuch’s nomination.
A number of Maine groups have called on Maine’s senators to oppose Gorsuch. Over the weekend, members of Brunswick Area Rising rallied on the Brunswick Mall in opposition to the judge, among other things. On Tuesday, prior to King’s statement, local activists from UltraViolet planned to deliver a life size spine to King’s Scarborough office, telling him to “show that he has a spine” and oppose Gorsuch.
The Maine GOP responded to King’s decision by attacking the senator’s independent credentials.
“Sen. King’s statement opposing Judge Gorsuch is laced with partisan Democrat talking points and lacking in honesty,” said Executive Director Jason Savage. “With this position, Sen. King has placed himself far to the left of moderate Democrats in the U.S. Senate supporting Judge Gorsuch.”
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has previously stated that she will vote in favor of Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
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