This morning, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced he plans to vote for President Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.
The news comes after Jackson's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Today's announcement, coupled with Judiciary Committee Republicans' decision not to boycott the panel vote on Jackson, all but guarantees her confirmation to the Supreme Court.
CNN reports:
“After meeting with her, considering her record, and closely monitoring her testimony and questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, I have determined I intend to vote for her nomination to serve on the Supreme Court,” Manchin said in a statement.
Senate Democrats are hoping to move swiftly to a confirmation vote by the full Senate by early next month. They can confirm Jackson to the Supreme Court without Republican support if every member of their caucus votes in favor, which appears on track to happen, and Vice President Kamala Harris breaks a tie. It is not yet clear if Jackson will win any Republican votes.
The possibility of a Judiciary Committee GOP boycott briefly emerged after 10 Republicans sent Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) a letter asking to suspend the hearings until senators could review pre-sentencing reports in three child pornography cases Jackson presided over.
Durbin promptly rejected the request.
The Hill adds:
The committee is expected to hold a vote on Jackson's nomination on April 4, with Democrats eager to confirm her before they leave for a two-week April break.
Under committee rules, a nomination can't be reported to the full Senate “unless a majority of the Committee is actually present at the time such action is taken and a majority of those present support the action taken.”
I will not vote for Manchin again. I think he needs to retire, NOW. Why in GOD’s name does he want a pedophile lover on the Supreme Court. Adults are supposed to protect children from adult sexual activities not offer children up to the sexual activities of adults. Disappointment in Manchin is an understatement right now. What is he thinking.