Blumenthal: I'll Use 'Every Tool That We Have' If Gorsuch Met A 'Roe' Litmus Test
By MATT SHUHAM Published MARCH 20, 2017, 10:00 AM EDT
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said Sunday that he would filibuster Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and “use every tool that we have” if Gorsuch fails to disavow litmus tests on abortion and guns, among other things.
Gorsuch’s multi-day confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET on Monday.
Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, began by saying on MSNBC Sunday that Gorsuch would have to tell the committee that a ban on any religion is unconstitutional. Judges have said that religious bias motivated President Donald Trump’s recently blocked travel ban.
“Even if he can't comment on the specific immigration case, he has to at least show that he respects the principle that the government can't discriminate on the basis of religion; that a Muslim ban would violate the Constitution," he said.
Blumenthal said he would hold Gorsuch to the same standard on Roe v. Wade, which set a precedent establishing abortion as a fundamental right, and gun control laws.
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