White House: Biden stands by pledge to nominate black woman to Supreme Court

.

The White House chose not to comment directly on Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s plans to retire but said President Joe Biden stands by his 2020 campaign promise to nominate a black woman to sit on the nation’s highest court if given the chance.

Biden made the pledge during a February 2020 Democratic presidential primary debate.

“It’s always been the decision of any Supreme Court justice, if and when they decide to retire, how they want to announce it,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at Wednesday’s press briefing. “And that remains the case today, so we’re not going to have additional details.”

Psaki still fielded a number of questions about the Breyer news but noted the president “has stated and reiterated his commitment to nominating a black woman to the Supreme Court and certainly stands by that for today.”

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER TO RETIRE, GIVING BIDEN HIS FIRST PICK

She additionally declined to offer “anything else” on whether Biden would nominate Vice President Kamala Harris, who served as California’s attorney general before her tenure in the Senate.

Breyer, 83, has served on the Supreme Court for nearly 30 years. Biden, then-chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, presided over his confirmation process.

“Justice Breyer has been a great justice, and he recognizes, I am sure, the political reality of our having control of the Senate now,” Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in April 2021. “Elections always have risks, so hopefully, he’s aware of that risk, and he sees it accordingly.”

Asked whether a hypothetical Supreme Court nominee would complicate the administration’s legislative agenda, Psaki cited the need to “walk and chew gum at the same time.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

You can watch Wednesday’s entire press briefing below.

Related Content

Related Content