The next one ranking, i got some letters from 21 state lieutenant governors and from 20 secretaries of state that i want to put in the record at this point. Before i question, i have a few points to make. Yesterday my democratic colleagues spoke about their concern that you, judge, wouldnt uphold certain laws, including the Affordable Care act, and that you would strip americans of their healthcare rights and those protections that come with it. These opponents said that republicans just want to confirm you so that you, quote, will carry their policies forward. Meaning, republican policies forward on the Supreme Court. But this only shows democrats fundamentally misunderstand what judges are supposed to do. A judge is supposed to interpret laws. In an impartial manner, consistent with the constitution. Republicans arent interested in seeing judges quote unquote carry their policies forward. Republicans want judges to interpret the law and the constitution, not make law. We want judges
mitch mcconnell has all but said, in the next two years not one year. in the next two years, if he s majority leader, he will not allow a vote on a democratic replacement a joe biden replacement for supreme court justice. so the margin now is about a year and a half. but it could be even shorter than that. now, with all respect to pat leahey, if there is a republican governor in vermont who would appoint his successor, the window for him to leave is extremely small to assure a democratic replacement. maybe, joan, maybe he ll leave next year. but who knows what the story will be next year before the midterms. you know, he is gambling with the future of the supreme court and ruth ginsburg lost that gamble. we ll see what happens with steven breyer.
already gone through their over time and the national guard could have to pull back on some of its training. i want to get to that, but first, you see this fencing behind me, it s the last remaining barricade put up after january 6th. as we speak, crews are to my left taking it down. we just got video to show you that happening. that is quite symbolic. it s the last remaining barricade up from the january 6th insurrection. we expect it to be totally down when lawmakers return from their recess on monday. as all of this is happening, there is this funding issue for the capitol police who are saying they re almost dry in terms of salary. we heard from senator pat leahey, the chairman of the appropriations committee. he said he wants to talk about the security supplemental. it has already passed the house. i it s languished in the senate.
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Appearing Wednesday afternoon before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke publicly for the first time about the Justice Department s decision earlier this week to continue seeking to substitute for former President Donald Trump in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Carroll alleged that Trump raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s, which he has denied. She sued him in November 2019 for defamation after he called her a liar, denied meeting her and alleged she made up the claim to sell her new book at the time.