Statement from Tom Steyer on Trump’s Supreme Court Pick

NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court:

“The Senate owes no deference to Donald Trump, a popular vote loser who is in the position to nominate a Supreme Court justice only because his fellow Republicans stole the opportunity from a president twice elected with clear majority support.

“The Supreme Court is one of the last lines of defense at this perilous time for our country. Fundamental principles of our democracy — voting rights, freedom of the press, and equal treatment — are under attack. It is now the duty of the Court to defend the constitution and the rights and freedoms it guarantees all Americans. Our highest court should reflect the values we have always held in highest regard: justice, equality, and the rule of law.

“The Senate must thoroughly vet Trump’s nominee. In light of Trump’s despotic tendencies and Russia’s role in his election, the Senate must reject any nominee whose allegiance to our Constitution and our most fundamental rights is in doubt.”