Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told Boston Public Radio on Monday that Republicans' push to confirm a nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court before election day is further politicizing the highest court.
"I think one of the reasons they want to hurry up a nominee [is] they want to kill the Affordable Care Act. What that means is we do away with any coverage for pre-existing conditions," he said.
Leahy, the most senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said this would be particularly insidious considering the number of people who survive COVID-19 but have lingering health impacts. Leahy said he would support waiting until whoever is elected to be sworn in on Jan. 20, and "let them nominate somebody [to the court] on Jan. 21."
"If we politicize the courts, that's what Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell are doing, starting with the Supreme Court, then people lose faith in their courts," he said. "You lose faith in one of the equal branches of our government, and we're going to have a very, very difficult time in our country."
