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Top Senate Democrats are planning to skip President Trump's high-profile unveiling on Tuesday night of his Supreme Court nominee.
Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinDems in bind over Trump court pick Trump to McConnell: Go nuclear if necessary Sessions approved by Senate committee MORE (Ill.), the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, said he wouldn't attend the White House's prime-time event because it wasn't an "appropriate roll out" for a pick.
Dick DurbinDems in bind over Trump court pick Trump to McConnell: Go nuclear if necessary Sessions approved by Senate committee MORE (Ill.), the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, said he wouldn't attend the White House's prime-time event because it wasn't an "appropriate roll out" for a pick."I don't want to be standing there tonight in the crowd when they pull back the curtain and say here's your nominee," he told reporters. "Let's do this in an orderly fashion."
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Spokesmen for Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer
Charles SchumerManchin: Trump's Supreme Court pick needs 60 votes The key economic issue missing from Trump's infrastructure plan Biden endorses Perez for DNC chair MORE (N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Dianne FeinsteinDem rips Trump's 'lip service' during Black History Month Sessions approved by Senate committee Top Dems skipping White House Supreme Court roll out MORE (Calif.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, also confirmed that the two top Democratic senators won't attend Trump's announcement.
Charles SchumerManchin: Trump's Supreme Court pick needs 60 votes The key economic issue missing from Trump's infrastructure plan Biden endorses Perez for DNC chair MORE (N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne FeinsteinDem rips Trump's 'lip service' during Black History Month Sessions approved by Senate committee Top Dems skipping White House Supreme Court roll out MORE (Calif.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, also confirmed that the two top Democratic senators won't attend Trump's announcement.Trump is expected to name his nominee on Tuesday evening at the White House, with two candidates brought to Washington, D.C., making the appearance that either could be chosen.
Vice President Pence reportedly invited GOP lawmakers to attend the event during a closed-door lunch.
GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey GrahamAfter PR disaster, Trump gives GOP reason to cheer Sessions approved by Senate committee GOP going nuclear over Gorsuch might destroy filibuster forever MORE (S.C.) and Orrin Hatch
Orrin HatchOvernight Healthcare: GOP talk shifts from replacing ObamaCare to repairing it | HHS pick advances after rules change Overnight Finance: GOP advances Treasury nominee | Vote on Trump budget pick delayed | Fed keeps rates steady | Border tax sets off lobbying frenzy GOP talk shifts from replacing ObamaCare to repairing it MORE (Utah) both said they expect to attend the roll out.
Lindsey GrahamAfter PR disaster, Trump gives GOP reason to cheer Sessions approved by Senate committee GOP going nuclear over Gorsuch might destroy filibuster forever MORE (S.C.) and Orrin HatchOrrin HatchOvernight Healthcare: GOP talk shifts from replacing ObamaCare to repairing it | HHS pick advances after rules change Overnight Finance: GOP advances Treasury nominee | Vote on Trump budget pick delayed | Fed keeps rates steady | Border tax sets off lobbying frenzy GOP talk shifts from replacing ObamaCare to repairing it MORE (Utah) both said they expect to attend the roll out.Trump's pick will likely kick off a high-stakes fight in the Senate, where some Democrats are already pledging to filibuster any nominee they don't support.
Durbin stressed earlier Tuesday that it was "too soon" for Democrats to issue a blanket pledge to fight a nominee without knowing who it is.
Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate. To defeat a filibuster, they would need eight Democrats to cross party lines.
Asked if the threat that Republicans could go "nuclear" and get rid of the 60-vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees impacted his thinking, Durbin added "of course."
Under a 2013 decision by Democrats — led by then-Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry ReidManchin: Trump's Supreme Court pick needs 60 votes Hillary Clinton to deliver commencement speech at alma mater Democrats could show they learned from ObamaCare by voting for Price MORE (D-Nev.) — the threshold for most nominations was lowered to a simple majority, but left in place for the Supreme Court.
Harry ReidManchin: Trump's Supreme Court pick needs 60 votes Hillary Clinton to deliver commencement speech at alma mater Democrats could show they learned from ObamaCare by voting for Price MORE (D-Nev.) — the threshold for most nominations was lowered to a simple majority, but left in place for the Supreme Court.Sen. Ted Cruz
Ted CruzLiberal groups fundraise off Supreme Court fight Franken slams Cruz for ‘trying to impugn’ his record The Hill's 12:30 Report MORE (R-Texas) is publicly flirting with getting rid of the 60-vote requirement for high court nominations if Democrats block Trump's nominee, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnellDems in bind over Trump court pick Red-state Democrats grapple with Gorsuch Manchin: Trump's Supreme Court pick needs 60 votes MORE (R-Ky.) has repeatedly signaled he does not want to take that step.
Ted CruzLiberal groups fundraise off Supreme Court fight Franken slams Cruz for ‘trying to impugn’ his record The Hill's 12:30 Report MORE (R-Texas) is publicly flirting with getting rid of the 60-vote requirement for high court nominations if Democrats block Trump's nominee, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellDems in bind over Trump court pick Red-state Democrats grapple with Gorsuch Manchin: Trump's Supreme Court pick needs 60 votes MORE (R-Ky.) has repeatedly signaled he does not want to take that step. 
