WATCH: Al Franken Asks Neil Gorsuch About His Views on Same-Sex Marriage. Gorsuch Refuses to Answer.
‘Any Revelation of My Personal Views on This Matter Would Indicate to People How I Might Rule as a Judge’
Democratic Senator Al Franken Tuesday afternoon took on, and took down, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. After blowing a hole in the Circuit Court judge’s claim that he does not discuss politics the Senator from Minnesota asked Judge Neil Gorsuch about his views on same-sex marriage.
Franken noted that former Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman – the man behind the 2004 plan to get conservatives to the polls by placing legislation to ban same-sex marriage on the ballots – had been Gorsuch’s college roommate. Gorsuch before being nominated to the 10th Circuit, Franken explained, had asked Mehlman to put in a good word for him with the White House.
Sen. Franken asked Judge Gorsuch how he felt volunteering to help re-elect President George W. Bush knowing that same-sex couples were facing having their relationships attacked as unequal.
“The amendments sent a clear message to lesbian and gay couples that their unions were not equal in the eyes of the law,” Franken said. “How’d you feel about the right to marry being put to the popular vote?”
Dodging, and saying he didn’t remember any involvement in the push to ban marriage, Gorsuch was then asked how he felt about marriage being banned for same-sex couples.
“My personal views? Any revelation of my personal views on this matter would indicate to people how I might rule as a judge – mistakenly, but it might,” Gorsuch insisted.
After reading a statement made by Ken Mehlman, who came out as gay several years ago, Franken asked Gorsuch how his views on marriage have changed since the 2004 election.
“Senator, my personal views, if I were to begin speaking about my personal views on this subject which every American has views on, would send a misleading signal to the American people – “
EARLIER– WATCH: Asked About LGBT Rights and Same-Sex Marriage SCOTUS Nominee Neil Gorsuch Appears Indignant
“It is settled law,” Franken interjected.”
“It is absolutely settled law,” Gorsuch acknowledged. “There’s ongoing litigation about its application, and its impact, right now, and I cannot begin to share my personal views without suggesting mistakenly – “Â
Franken again interjected and moved on.
Watch:
Judge Neil Gorsuch to @SenFranken on marriage equality: “It is absolutely settled law.” #GorsuchHearing pic.twitter.com/QD9bMXPBZf
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 21, 2017
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