Biden: ‘Voters Should Pick the President and the President Should Pick the Justice’

Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Friday that the Supreme Court seat formerly held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be filled by the candidate the American people elect as their next commander-in-chief.

Speaking to reporters a few hours after the news broke of Ginsburg’s death, the former vice president said there “is no doubt” over the issue.

“Voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider,” he said.

Biden, who presided over Ginsburg’s nomination to the court while a senator, said the late justice “was not only a giant in the legal profession, but a beloved figure, and my heart goes out to all those who cared for her and care about her.”

He continued:

Tonight, in the coming days, we should focus on the loss of the justice and her enduring legacy. But there is no doubt, let me be clear: the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider. This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost ten months to go before the election. That’s the position the United States Senate must take today. And the election is only 46 days off; I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days. And the average is closer to 70 days. And so they should do this with full consideration. And that is my hope and expectation.

In fact, people have already begun casting their ballots in several states through early voting. Also, absentee ballots have already been mailed out.

Yet Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he intends on holding a vote for President Trump’s pick.

Watch the video above, via CNN.