The use of the nuclear option by Republicans in the Senate to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch was a "sad day," Sen. Chris Coons said Friday.
"I think this was a sad day for the Senate, and each party has a deeply felt sense of grievance. Democrats feel that Judge Merrick Garland was badly mistreated," the Delaware Democrat told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.
"Republicans are deeply aggrieved that Judge Gorsuch was the subject of a partisan filibuster, and the resolution is that the opportunity for any future filibusters is now gone against Supreme Court nominees," he added.
"I spent a lot of time in the last two weeks with a dozen senators, both Republicans and Democrats, trying to come to an agreement, similar to what the Gang of 14 was able to do," he continued.
"Susan Collins was a terrific partner in doing this work and on my side, Sens. [Michael] Bennett and [Angus] King. In the end we don't have enough trust that the point for us to be able to get past this point."
Coons expressed optimism, however, that senators would work together to keep the filibuster rule intact for legislation.
"What I'm hopeful we'll see today and over the next couple of weeks is a strong bipartisan commitment to defend the legislative filibuster, the thing that makes the Senate the Senate and not the House.
"One of my real hopes is that the steps taken by President [Donald] Trump will bring us together… one of the unintended consequences of a Trump presidency may be to make the Senate great again," Coons added.
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