Meet with Garland

More Republicans agree to meet with Garland

By Seung Min Kim and Burgess Everett

At least two Senate Republicans plan to meet with Merrick Garland next week, suggesting there's momentum behind the Democratic campaign to pressure the GOP into at least one-on-one meetings with the Supreme Court nominee, if not an actual confirmation vote this year.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine had said during an interview with a Maine radio station earlier this week she will meet with Garland. And a spokesman for Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas said Thursday that he is planning one as well.

“My understanding is that is currently being worked out for next week,” Boozman spokesman Patrick Creamer said in an email.

Senate Republicans, who overwhelmingly say Garland’s nomination should not move forward this year, argue these meetings are purely a matter of courtesy. They point to the fact that only three GOP senators have called for hearings this year.

“The fact that after a month and a half of a sustained political campaign (and millions of dollars spent by MoveOn.org and other left-wing groups) and all they can point to is a handful of courtesy visits demonstrates that the special interests haven't succeeded in moving senators away from a principled decision,” said Don Stewart, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

But Democrats see these one-on-ones with Garland as a key way to gain ground — however incremental — in their war of attrition over the Republican blockade of Garland.

Other Senate GOP offices contacted Thursday indicated that they were in communication with the White House to set up meetings with Garland. For example, Sens. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Mike Rounds of South Dakota have been in touch with White House officials, aides said.

Meanwhile, the two Oklahoma Republican senators say they are both open to meetings, but the White House has not reached out to them. Garland has a unique tie to Oklahoma; he oversaw the investigation into the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) "is willing to meet with Mr. Garland. But no meeting has been set up yet,” Lankford spokesman Darrell Jordan said Thursday. “We have not asked the White House for a meeting. We assume the White House will contact us to request specifics.”

An aide to Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who is also willing to meet with Garland and has already spoken to him on the phone, said no meeting has been requested. A White House official said the White House legislative affairs office has reached out to both senators' offices in an attempt to schedule in-person meeting.

An aide said Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) is awaiting word from the White House on a meeting with Garland. She and other Republicans have said they would use the meetings to reiterate that filling the vacancy should wait until after the election.

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a moderate red-state Democrat, will also host a private sit-down with Garland; his meeting is scheduled for April 5.

So far, Garland — who was nominated March 16 by President Barack Obama to replace deceased Justice Antonin Scalia — has

And Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is not meeting with Garland after previously saying he’d be open to a meeting, even though he opposes the nomination.

“Senator Rubio will not be meeting with Judge Garland. He doesn’t believe the Senate should move on this nomination in the president’s final year, he wouldn’t support him, neither of these positions will change, and he sees no point in a meeting,” said a spokesman.