Rush Limbaugh calls for GOP to skip hearings for Trump SCOTUS pick and go straight for floor vote

The conservative radio host hopes to avoid confirmation hearings like Brett Kavanaugh’s or Clarence Thomas’s

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh called on Republicans to skip a confirmation hearing for whoever Donald Trump nominates to fill the Supreme Court Justice seat left open following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  

The long-time radio host called for the move during his show on Monday.  

"I want the Judiciary Committee - that could be great if [the confirmation hearing] was skipped," he said. "We don't need to open that up for whatever length of time, so that whoever this nominee is can be Kavanaugh'd or Borked or Thomas'd. Because that's what it's going to be, especially when it's not even required."  

Mr Limbaugh's arguments are rooted in fear that the Democrats will do everything in their power to undermine the character and qualifications of a Supreme Court Justice nominee picked by a Republican president.  

He referenced the controversial confirmations of Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas, both conservative in ideology, and both who fought accusations of sexual misconduct during their hearings. Robert Bork was another conservative pick for the court, but was ultimately not confirmed.  

The US Constitution does not call for public committee hearings as part of the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees. The first confirmation hearing took place in 1925 when Justice Harlan Fiske Stone appeared before a committee to address details of a political scandal.  

Confirmation hearings occurred a few more times in the early 20th century. Then, in 1955, the nomination of John Marshall Harlan marked the start of the confirmation hearing as Americans might recognise it today. 

Donald Trump said he planned to nominate a new justice on Friday or Saturday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would move to quickly consider Mr Trump's nominee.  

Donald Trump said he planned to nominate a new justice on Friday or Saturday.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would move to quickly consider Mr Trump's nominee.  

Democrats have called out Mr McConnell for his hypocrisy, as he was a driving force in the 2016 effort by Republicans to obstruct the nomination process of former-president Barack Obama's pick for the Supreme Court.  

Following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Mr Obama selected Merrick Garland to take his place. Mr McConnell and Senate Republicans refused to consent to any Supreme Court Justice selected by Mr Obama, holding the position in limbo for 11 months until the end of Mr Obama's term as president.  

Now, Mr McConnell aims to fast track the selection and confirmation of a new justice despite the 2020 US election being less than two months away.  

Thus far, at least two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have said they do not believe the selection should take place until after the election. At least four Republicans would have to vote against Mr McConnell to stall the selection.