John Cornyn: Neil Gorsuch Is 'No Extremist or Judicial Radical'

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn Friday called on Democrats to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court on Monday, saying that the nominee "is no extremist or judicial radical."

"Senate Democrats agreed with that assessment back in 2006, when the chamber unanimously confirmed him to his current post" on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver, the Texas Republican said in an op-ed piece on CNN.

"If Democrats refuse to allow an up-or-down vote on Judge Gorsuch, as Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has threatened, then there's no Republican nominee they won't filibuster."

Schumer, the New York Democrat, has vowed to block Gorsuch's nomination on Monday — and two other party members, Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said they would join Republicans and back the nominee.

In the face of a filibuster threat, several Republicans have called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to invoke the "nuclear option" that would require Gorsuch to be confirmed by a simple majority — rather than the 60 votes necessary under current rules.

"Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed as the next Supreme Court justice," Cornyn said. "The question is whether Democrats will give him the up-or-down vote he deserves."

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