Franken Confronts Gorsuch: ‘Do You Think Merrick Garland Was Treated Fairly?’

Senator Al Franken repeatedly confronted Neil Gorsuch this afternoon to try and get his opinion on the treatment of Merrick Garland, former President Barack Obama‘s nominee for the Supreme Court seat last year.

Franken recalled that when he spoke with Gorsuch in his office, he asked a few times if it was troubling to see the way Senate Republicans treated Garland. Gorsuch’s answer, Franken said, was that he tries to stay away from politics.

The Minnesota senator went on to bring up information about his political background that Senate Democrats were quick to tweet out:

Take a look at Judge Gorsuch’s resume from 2004. Despite what he has said, he hasn’t really stayed out of politics after all: pic.twitter.com/3Six3kEU8x

— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) March 21, 2017

The mention of 1976 there is notable because, as Gorsuch said, that year he was “walking the district with my mom when she was running for state house.” Also, he was 9-years-old at the time.

Franken’s citations of Gorsuch’s past political activity led him to conclude that his statement about trying to “avoid” politics isn’t entirely true.

He again asked Gorsuch for his thoughts on Garland.

Gorsuch said his belief in staying out of political matters began the moment he became a judge. Franken tried to ask him again, but Gorsuch did not bite.

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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