President Donald Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani Monday dismissed Democrats' complaints about the conservatives on the shortlist of Supreme Court nominees, saying it's "perfectly legitimate" that the president would pick candidates who would share his ideology and that he'd get a list of picks from the Federalist Society.
"The president asked for recommendations much like I did when I was mayor, from the bar association," the former New York City mayor told Fox News' "Fox & Friends."
"I appointed 100 judges. I appointed people who shared my ideology, [who were] strict on crime, tough and hard."
Giuliani said as a result, crime was reduced by 60 percent in New York City, but had he appointed "crazy liberals" like had been done before, the city would have continued as it was.
"You have a right to do that when you are elected," said Giuliani, describing the Federalist Society's conservative attorneys as "great lawyers."
Further, he said, Trump didn't get elected as a liberal, so it's legitimate for him to pick a conservative.
"I went through this list,' Giuliani said. "I know of all of them. I know some of them. I know people on the list. They are all superb judges. He could pick anyone on the list. I think they would bear scrutiny."
Trump plans to make his announcement Monday night, and Giuliani said the president "should look for a conservative. That is why we elected him. He is looking for somebody obviously young. They all are."
The ideal candidate will be someone who will stick to his or her principles, but "occasionally vary them," as Republicans sometimes do.
"Democrats, they're airtight,' said Giuliani. "They get more liberal by the day. Ours, we always get one who kind of drifts off to the center or even a little bit to the left."
Trump's final four in the list are "conscientious conservatives," said Giuliani, who refused to say who he thinks the president will pick.
"I'm going to support any one of the four," said the former mayor, joking that he has his "personal favorite," but he wouldn't bet on the choice because I think it is illegal."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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