Kelly Ayotte Trusts Donald Trump to Appoint SCOTUS Judges
For Immediate Release: May 31, 2016
When Kelly Ayotte was asked today on NHPR whether she trusts Donald Trump to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and she responded saying, “Whoever the people vote for in November I think is appropriate and, you know, I have said all along that I will support our Republican nominee…” This comes just one week after Donald Trump confirmed that he would appoint anti-abortion judges to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Quote from Jennifer Frizzell, Vice President for Public Policy at the Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund:
“Once more we see that Kelly Ayotte and Donald Trump are one in the same. Not only does Ayotte support Donald Trump for president –– she’s now banking on him to appoint Supreme Court judges to overturn Roe v Wade. Kelly Ayotte has spent her career fighting to ban abortion and block access to birth control and lifesaving cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood. Now Ayotte is shirking her constitutional duties and the will of New Hampshire voters in hopes that Donald Trump will be elected and appoint anti-abortion judges to the Supreme Court. That’s not what voters in New Hampshire want."
In New Hampshire, 59 percent of voters believe that the Supreme Court vacancy should be filled this year, compared to only 36 percent who do not. Among independents, 60 percent believe the seat should be filled. On the issue of abortion, New Hampshire voters are overwhelmingly supportive of access to abortion. Even among GOP voters in New Hampshire, a plurality describe themselves as "pro-choice.”
Senator Ayotte and Donald Trump are one in the same when it comes to overturning Roe v. Wade:
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Kelly Ayotte supports overturning Roe v. Wade: “Ayotte said the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion should be overturned, but states should regulate abortion rather than adopt a constitutional change.” [Nashua Telegraph, 8/20/10]
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Senator Kelly Ayotte: “I certainly think that Roe should be overturned.” [YouTube, NH Dems, uploaded 1/20/16]
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On CNN’s State of the Union, Trump said being “pro-life” would be a litmus test for SCOTUS nominees: TAPPER: You're pro-choice or pro-life? TRUMP: I'm pro-life… . TAPPER: How important is that issue to you now when President Trump picks Supreme Court justices? Would that be a litmus test? TRUMP: It is. It is.” [CNN’s State of the Union, 6/28/15]
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Trump said the best way to ban abortion is “by electing me president”: “Asked on Fox News what one thing he would do to ‘protect the sanctity of life,’ Trump told host Bill O’Reilly, ‘I will protect it, and the biggest way you can protect it is through the Supreme Court and putting people on the court. Actually, the biggest way you can protect it, I guess, is by electing me president.’” [Huffington Post, 5/11/16]
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Would appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court: Donald Trump told conservative, Christian media mogul and founder of Regents University Pat Robertson that he would elect “pro-life” judges to the Supreme Court, “Robertson asked Trump what he would look for in a Supreme Court nominee. Justice Antonin Scalia died Feb. 13, leaving the high court with four Democratic appointees and four Republican appointees. ‘Pro-life,’ Trump said without hesitation. ‘I’ve always said that Justice (Clarence) Thomas doesn’t get enough credit. Justice (Samuel A.) Alito is a terrific guy ... so in that realm,’ Trump added.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/24/16]