Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., distanced himself Friday from comments he made earlier in the week that were supportive of moving forward with the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland.
After coming under fire from conservative groups, which threatened him with TV ads, Moran clarified that he opposes President Barack Obama’s choice to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
“I am opposed to President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee and this administration’s attempt to put another liberal judge on the Supreme Court,” Moran said in a statement.
However, Moran still left the door open to holding hearings to question Garland on his judicial record, a step Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and most other Republicans have been unwilling to entertain.
I am certain a thorough investigation would expose Judge Garland’s record and judicial philosophy, and disqualify him in the eyes of Kansans and Americans.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
Hours after Scalia’s death last month, McConnell said Obama should leave it to the next president to make the appointment. The Kentucky Republican declined even to meet with Garland and rejected the notion that the Senate could vote on his nomination after the November election.
Moran suggested Friday that the confirmation process could bolster the case against him.
“I am certain a thorough investigation would expose Judge Garland’s record and judicial philosophy,” he said, “and disqualify him in the eyes of Kansans and Americans.”