Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake thinks Congress should change its mind and hold confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency.
The Republican told Politico he would like to see congressional leaders move forward with Merrick Garland's nomination after the election, should Clinton win, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia earlier this year.
"I said if we were in a position like we were in '96 and we pretty much knew the outcome that we ought to move forward. But I think we passed that awhile ago," Flake told Politico. "If Hillary Clinton is president-elect then we should move forward with hearings in the lame duck. That's what I'm encouraging my colleagues to do."
Flake is on the Senate Judiciary Committee, so he would have a direct role in Garland's confirmation hearings. He told Politico "there is some accuracy" to all the polls that show Clinton leading Trump in the race for president less than three weeks from election day.
"I'm saying that I'm not one to deny polls, particularly when they are overwhelming," Flake said.
Many Republican lawmakers cried foul when Obama nominated Garland, given that it's an election year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Newsmax in May that Garland will not be confirmed in 2016.
"The nomination will be made by the next president, whomever that may be. Period," The Kentucky Republican said.
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