President Donald Trump met with Amy Coney Barrett on Monday and is reportedly “moving toward nominating” her to replace the Supreme Court seat vacated by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week at the age of 87.
“Trump has told allies that he thinks Barrett, 48, is a smart, hard-nosed, conservative jurist who would also come across well during televised confirmation hearings,” Bloomberg News reported. “Trump also believes Barrett won’t be wobbly on major issues for conservatives, including abortion, gun rights and health care, when they come before the court.”
Fox News, ABC News, The Washington Post, and Reuters all confirmed that Trump met with Barrett on Monday at the White House.
From colleague John Roberts. Trump met today with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, potential nominee to succeed Ginsburg
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 21, 2020
Supreme Court contender Amy Coney Barrett was at the White House today — Reuters
— Lawrence Hurley (@lawrencehurley) September 21, 2020
Trump met privately with Supreme Court nominee finalist Amy Coney Barrett at the White House earlier this afternoon, two sources tell @jdawsey1 and moi
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) September 21, 2020
.@ABC News has confirmed President Trump met with Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House today – w/ @KFaulders @caphilltrish
— John Santucci (@Santucci) September 21, 2020
“The president told reporters he was still going to be interviewing other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week,” The Associated Press reported. “But Barrett has long been favored by conservatives, and those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Lagoa amid concerns by some that she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist.”
Trump spoke with reporters Monday on the White House lawn where he said that it was best to put someone on the Supreme Court before the election.
“Well, I’d much rather have a vote before the election, because there’s a lot of work to be done and I’d much rather have it,” Trump said. “We have plenty of time to do it. There’s really a lot of time. So, let’s say I make the announcement on Saturday. There’s a great deal of time before the election. That’ll be up to Mitch and the Senate, but I’d certainly much rather have the vote. I think it sends a good signal and it’s solidarity and lots of other things. And I’m just doing my constitutional obligation. I have an obligation to do this, so I would rather see it before the election.”
This story has been updated to include additional information.