WASHINGTON — (CNN) Sen. Mark Kirk, the first Republican senator to call for confirmation hearings and a vote on embattled Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland, blasted his GOP leadership on Tuesday for refusing to act on the nomination.
“We need rational, adult open-minded consideration of the constitutional process which Judge Garland is part of,” the Illinois senator said. “He’s been duly nominated by the elected president of the United States to fill a vacancy which we know exists on the court, and we need open-minded, rational, responsible people to keep an open mind to make sure the process works.”
The blunt comments came during a photo opportunity with Garland in Kirk’s Capitol Hill office. He is the first Republican to meet one-on-one with Garland since the judge was selected by President Barack Obama to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Most Senate Republicans say a nomination to replace Scalia should be made next year by whoever wins the White House this fall.
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