Senator Michael "Mike" Lee, a Republican from Utah, speaks during a news conference on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill with Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, right, in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. The DHS is operating under a continuing resolution that expires on Feb 27 with a stalemate over whether the must-pass measure should carry riders to upend President Barack Obama's immigration policies continuing to threaten passage of the legislation. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
News broke Thursday that President Donald Trump is considering nominating Utah Sen. Mike Lee to the Supreme Court as Justice Anthony Kennedy’s replacement. Constitutional conservatives across the country are cheering the possibility – but many on the right may have forgotten that Lee threw Trump under the bus just prior to the presidential election.
In October 2016, after The Washington Post published audio clips of Trump having “an extremely lewd conversation about women” with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush in 2005, Lee used Facebook Live to urge Trump to give up his nomination for president. He doubled down on this position when he told NBC’s Meet the Press that stepping down was the only way for Trump to salvage his legacy.
When the election rolled around, Lee voted for fellow Utahan Evan McMullin for president.
Indeed, even though Trump rose above the Access Hollywood scandal, in Sept. 2017, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told 60 Minutes that the weeks following the scandal were a “litmus test” for Republicans – one that Lee failed.
It appears, however, that that’s all water under the bridge. Lee has supported virtually all of Trump’s policies since he assumed office, and he said Thursday that he’s honored to be considered for the Supreme Court nomination:
On Thursday, Lee told Fox News, “I have a good relationship with the president. He and I don’t see eye to eye on every issue. He and I see eye to eye on most things when it comes to the Supreme Court of the United States.” He added, “I’m someone who’s been watching the Supreme Court since I was 10 years old. I’m honored to even be considered for something like this.”
Nevertheless, as great a Supreme Court Justice as Lee would make, his absence from the Senate could pose a serious problem for the GOP, whose slim hold on the upper chamber could possibly become even slimmer, even in a deep red state like Utah. Stranger things have happened. Whatever choice Trump makes – he’ll have to be smart about it.
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This will get me beat up but Lee is a mormon. Anyone who can be a mormon either can't read or can't reason. Only cathlicism and muslimsism are bigger false religions that mormonism. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.
Taking Jeff Sessions out of the Senate proved to be a huge mistake. The same will happen if Lee is chosen. The slim GOP majority will be threatened and just make everything harder. Not a wise move. Besides the fact that Lee is not as qualified as most of the others on Trump's list. A female Conservative voice would be more productive politically and judicially. Need to show that not all women support the leftist females.
This is something we must be SURE about. SURE that he will follow our Constitution and not make his own rules/laws.
This is something we must be SURE about. SURE that he will follow our Constitution and not make his own rules/laws.
We need a person with much judicial experience, which Lee lacks.
We need Lee right where he is - a highly effective conservative Senator.
Also, the fact that he is a Mormon (I am too), just puts a target on his back
that too many bigots love to shoot at. I vote for Judge Jeanine Pirro!!
We need a person with much judicial experience, which Lee lacks.
We need Lee right where he is - a highly effective conservative Senator.
Also, the fact that he is a Mormon (I am too), just puts a target on his back
that too many bigots love to shoot at. I vote for Judge Jeanine Pirro!!
Mike is a pessimist. He bad mouthed the president when Trump was a candidate. DO NOT nominate him for SCOTUS! Let him earn that nomination while serving as Senator, we need his vote. Then after a little time and he proves his loyalty, the President can nominate him. There will be another slot open on the court.
Mike is a pessimist. He bad mouthed the president when Trump was a candidate. DO NOT nominate him for SCOTUS! Let him earn that nomination while serving as Senator, we need his vote. Then after a little time and he proves his loyalty, the President can nominate him. There will be another slot open on the court.
STUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUpid
not a chance Mike Lee is a TOP contender ::: not a chance
STUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUpid
not a chance Mike Lee is a TOP contender ::: not a chance