Mitch McConnell: I Recommended Merrick Garland for FBI Director

1 minute read
Senate Minority Democratic Harry Reid Meets With Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland On Capitol Hill
Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, (R), meets with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), on Capitol Hill September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier in the week that the Senate Judiciary Committee will not hold hearings during this session of Congress.Mark Wilson—Getty Images
By Lisa Marie Segarra

Merrick Garland has a new supporter in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

McConnell said that Garland would be his candidate of choice to replace FBI Director James Comey, in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday. “I have spoken with the President about it, and I recommended Merrick Garland,” McConnell said.

President Donald Trump fired Comey last Tuesday and the White House is interviewing possible replacements.

McConnell, who denied Garland a confirmation hearing when then-President Barack Obama nominated Garland to fill Antonin Scalia’s Supreme Court Justice seat, noted that the judge would make an ideal candidate because of his professional experience.

“It may surprise people, but he has a deep background in criminal law, he was the prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case,” McConnell said. “I think it would make it clear that President Trump will continue the tradition at the FBI of having an apolitical professional.”

McConnell added that a pick with a law enforcement background without a history of political involvement will “serve [Trump] well, serve the country well and lead to a more bipartisan approach.”

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com