Senate

Judiciary chairman invites Supreme Court nominee to breakfast

by Jordain Carney - 04/04/16 6:54 PM ET

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is inviting Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland to a breakfast meeting — but a confirmation hearing does not appear to be on the menu.

“Senator Grassley spoke to Judge Garland early this evening and invited the judge to breakfast where they could discuss the nomination and why the Senate will not consider a nominee until the next President takes office,” Beth Levine, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Republican, said on Monday.

{mosads}While a time and a date still need to be worked out, the meeting will mark the first time that Grassley and Garland have spoken in person since the judge was nominated by President Obama. The two men spoke on the phone last month before the Senate went on a two-week recess.

While the White House initially said that Grassley agreed to a meeting during the call with Garland, the senator’s office said instead that the two would speak again about a possible meeting after the Easter break.

“Grassley essentially said to call after the recess and we’ll go from there about a meeting,” an aide told The Hill at the time.

Approximately 17 GOP senators, including Grassley, have suggested they are open to sitting down with Garland. Most, however, have said they will use the meetings to reiterate that they believe the Supreme Court seat should remain vacant.

Democrats and outside groups are hoping that an onslaught of pressure will force Republicans to cave and agree to give Garland a hearing and eventual floor vote.

Democrats sent a letter to Grassley and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) late last month outlining a timeline for Garland’s nomination. Under their proposal, the full Senate would vote on the nomination by the end of May.

But GOP leadership, including Grassley, has given no indications that it’s going to change its strategy.

Republicans are under fierce pressure from conservatives to hold the line on the Supreme Court vacancy. Conservative groups threatened to primary Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) after he backed a hearing for Garland.

Garland is currently scheduled to meet with Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) this week and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) next week.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), considered the most vulnerable GOP senator up for reelection, became the first Republican to suggest he would consider voting for Garland ahead of a meeting with the judge last week.

Tags Chuck Grassley Jerry Moran John Boozman Kelly Ayotte Mark Kirk Mitch McConnell Susan Collins