Today in US Politics
That’s all from me today. Here’s how the day unfolded in Washington, as Russian attacks on Kyiv intensified and Joe Biden made a historic announcement about the supreme court:
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The White House said it will impose direct sanctions on Vladimir Putin and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, mirroring the sanctions announced by the EU earlier today. “Following a telephone conversation President Biden held with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and in alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,” press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters this afternoon.
- Psaki said the US sanctions on Putin would likely include a travel ban. The White House is expected to release more details on the sanctions later this afternoon. Asked about calls for Russia to also be banned from the Swift international payment system, Psaki said, “We’ve never taken that off the table, of course, and I’m certainly not taking it off the table today.”
- Biden announced that he would nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the supreme court. If confirmed by the Senate, Brown would replace Justice Stephen Breyer and become the first Black woman to ever serve on the US supreme court. “If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the supreme court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded will inspire future generations of Americans,” Jackson said at the White House.
- Biden praised Jackson as “one of the nation’s brightest legal minds”. Formally announcing Jackson as his nominee, Biden said, “It’s my honor to introduce to the country a daughter of former public school teachers, a proven consensus-builder, an accomplished lawyer, a distinguished jurist on one of the nation’s most prestigious courts. My nominee for the United States supreme court is Judge Ketanji Jackson.”
- Senate Democrats said they would move quickly to confirm Jackson. “Judge Jackson’s achievements are well known to the Senate Judiciary Committee as we approved her to the D.C. Circuit less than a year ago with bipartisan support,” said Dick Durbin, the chairman of the panel. “We will begin immediately to move forward on her nomination with the careful, fair, and professional approach she and America are entitled to.”
For more updates on the situation in Ukraine, make sure to follow the Guardian’s other live blog, which is still going:
Jen Psaki was asked how the US would respond if Vladimir Putin successfully overtakes Kyiv, as Russian forces escalate their attacks against the Ukrainian capital.
“I would just reiterate, as we’ve been warning for months, that Kyiv falling is a real possibility,” the White House press secretary told reporters.
“Russia’s military continues to advance toward Kyiv, so there is that real possibility. I’m just not going to get into, at this point, hypotheticals of what that will look like or what our response would be.”
Psaki’s briefing has now concluded, after the press secretary took questions from reporters for about 50 minutes.
Joe Biden will have a meeting with members of his national security team in Delaware tomorrow, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
Right before Psaki’s briefing started, the White House updated the president’s official schedule to note that he will travel to his home in Wilmington, Delaware, this evening and remain there through the weekend.
Psaki noted that Biden is traveling to Delaware to attend the memorial service of a family member and will still be able to take secure calls there, as the White House monitors developments in Ukraine.
“Every president can work from anywhere they are because that is how presidencies are equipped,” Psaki said. “The president has the capacity to make a secure call from anywhere.”
Jen Psaki was asked what the White House’s message is to the Ukrainian people, who are fighting back against Vladimir Putin even as civilian lives are threatened by Russian airstrikes.
“We are amazed by your courage, your remarkable courage in standing up against what President Putin is doing,” the White House press secretary said.
“It is not easy to protest in many scenarios, but it’s certainly not easy to protest against the actions of an autocratic leader. And that’s exactly what these protesters are doing.”
Psaki said it was “horrific” and “heart-wrenching” to watch the scenes coming out of Ukraine as Russia attacks major cities and attempts to overtake the capital of Kyiv.
“Our message to the Ukrainian people continues to be that we stand with you, we support you,” Psaki said.
Jen Psaki said that Joe Biden made the decision to impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in the past day.
“That decision was made over the course of the last 24 hours and in partnership with our European counterparts,” the White House press secretary said.
Biden announced a second round of sanctions against Russia yesterday, but he was criticized for not including direct sanctions on Putin in that package.
Asked whether the sanctions on Putin would include a travel ban, Psaki replied, “I believe that would be a part of the US component.”
The press secretary has indicated that the Biden administration will release more details on the sanctions against Putin, Lavrov and Russian national security officials later this afternoon.
Jen Psaki said that the coordinated decision between the EU and the US to impose direct sanctions on Vladimir Putin sends “a clear message about the strength of the opposition to the actions” by the Russian president.
Asked about calls for Russia to be banned from the Swift international payment system, Psaki said, “We’ve never taken that off the table, of course, and I’m certainly not taking it off the table today.”
The White House press secretary also delivered a warning that the US and its allies would respond even more severely if Russian forces target Ukraine’s elected officials, particularly President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“Obviously going after the head of state would be a significant, horrific act by Russian leadership,” Psaki said.
US plans to impose direct sanctions on Putin and Lavrov, White House confirms
The US intends to impose direct sanctions on the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, during her daily briefing moments ago, saying that more details will be available “later this afternoon”.
“Following a telephone conversation President Biden held with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and in alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,” Psaki told reporters.
.@PressSec Jen Psaki: "Following a telephone conversation President Biden held with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and in alignment with the decision by our European allies, the U.S. will join them in sanctioning President Putin..." pic.twitter.com/GG9PRPk8fW
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 25, 2022
Updated
The New York Times is now also reporting that the US plans to impose direct sanctions on Vladimir Putin in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, will soon hold her daily briefing, and she may confirm those plans to reporters.
Meanwhile, the White House has just announced that Joe and Jill Biden will travel to their home in Wilmington, Delaware, this evening and will remain there through the weekend.
Facebook parent company Meta has temporarily reversed a ban on content related to a far-right Nazi militia due to its role in defending Ukraine.
The company confirmed on Thursday it is making a “narrow exception” for praise of the Azov Regiment in the context of its role as part of the Ukraine National Guard.
“We are continuing to ban all hate speech, hate symbolism, praise of violence, generic praise, support, or representation of the Azov Regiment, and any other content that violates our community standards,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.
The move is in part to ensure users have access to information about ongoing military activity as defense of Ukraine from Russian invasion continues.
Internal materials at Facebook, reported on by the Intercept, showed the platform will still ban recruitment to Azov on the platform and any hate speech.
That means it would allow a phrase like “Azov movement volunteers are real heroes, they are a much needed support to our national guard” but not “Well done Azov for protecting Ukraine and it’s white nationalist heritage.”
As Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“Russia’s actions against Ukraine are unconscionable. I spoke with Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba about increasing reports of civilian deaths, including those of children, from Russian rocket launches,” Blinken said on Twitter. “All who commit atrocities should be held to account.”
Russia’s actions against Ukraine are unconscionable. I spoke with Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba about increasing reports of civilian deaths, including those of children, from Russian rocket launches. All who commit atrocities should be held to account.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 25, 2022
The State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, added in a statement that Blinken “underscored continued U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” during the call.
“The Secretary also emphasized to Foreign Minister Kuleba that the United States would continue to provide support to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russian aggression,” Price said.
Amnesty International has accused Russia of potential war crimes in Ukraine, saying its military “has shown a blatant disregard for civilian lives by using ballistic missiles and other explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas”.
Updated
When Joe Biden announced the latest round of sanctions against Russia yesterday, the package did not include personal sanctions on Vladimir Putin.
That decision sparked criticism from Democrats and Republicans, who argued that the US must use every tool at its disposal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Not giving clarity to Putin about what would happen if he invaded Ukraine was a mistake. Not going after him personally is an even bigger mistake,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said.
“When it comes to sanctions against Putin: If we are not doing everything possible, we are not doing enough. Time is not on our side.”
The House intelligence committee chairman, Adam Schiff, agreed that Biden needed to further escalate the sanctions by specifically targeting Putin and pushing to block Russia from the international Swift payment system.
“I favor going further,” Schiff told MSNBC yesterday. “I favor expelling them from Swift. I favor imposing sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin. This is an unprecedent situation, and even though we don’t generally sanction heads of state, on occasion we do, and I think it’s merited here.”
Biden speaks to Zelenskiy amid report of potential US sanctions on Putin
Joe Biden spoke to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, earlier today, as one report indicates the US will soon impose direct sanctions on Vladimir Putin in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The White House told the press pool that Biden spoke to Zelenskiy from 11.52amET to 12.32pm ET, while the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is coming under more severe attacks by Russian forces.
Meanwhile, CNN is reporting that the Biden administration is preparing to specifically sanction Putin, as members of both parties have called on the US president to do.
CNN reports:
The US is planning to impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision.
The Russian leader will become the highest-profile target in the effort to impose costs on the Russian economy and Putin’s inner circle in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Additional Russian officials are likely to be included, one of the people said.
Biden said yesterday that sanctioning Putin was one possibility the US was exploring, but he ignored questions about why he was not yet taking that step.
Updated
Ketanji Brown Jackson noted that she shares a birthday with Constance Baker Motley, the late civil rights activist who became the first Black woman to serve as a US federal judge.
“Today, I proudly stand on Judge Motley’s shoulders -- sharing not only her birthday, but also her steadfast and courageous commitment to equal justice under law,” Jackson said.
“Judge Motley’s life and career has been a true inspiration to me, as I have pursued this professional path.”
Jackson, who would become the first Black woman to serve on the supreme court if confirmed by the Senate, expressed hope that she would similarly be an inspiration to others who come after her.
“If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the supreme court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded will inspire future generations of Americans.”
With that, Jackson concluded her brief remarks, and Joe Biden wrapped up the event without taking any questions from reporters.
Ketanji Brown Jackson specifically thanked Justice Stephen Breyer for giving her “the greatest job that any young lawyer could ever hope to have,” a supreme court clerkship.
“He also exemplifies every day, in every way that a supreme court justice can perform at the highest level of skill and integrity while also being guided by civility, grace, pragmatism and generosity of spirit,” Jackson said of her former boss, who she will replace if confirmed.
“Justice Breyer, the members of the Senate will decide if I fill your seat, but please know that I could never fill your shoes.”
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson used her remarks at the White House to thank her family, her colleagues and God for allowing her to achieve the prestigious honor of a supreme court nomination.
“I must begin these very brief remarks by thanking God for delivering me to this point in my professional journey,” Jackson said after being introduced by Joe Biden.
“My life has been blessed beyond measure. And I do know that one can only come this far by faith.”
Joe Biden said Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring “extraordinary qualifications, deep experience and intellect and a rigorous judicial record” to the supreme court if confirmed by the Senate.
“Incredibly, Judge Jackson has already been confirmed by the United States Senate three times,” Biden noted.
Jackson was most recently confirmed by the Senate last year, when she was nominated to the DC Circuit Court. She was confirmed in a bipartisan vote of 53 to 44, although it’s currently unclear whether her supreme court nomination will attract any Republican support.
Updated
Joe Biden opened his event with supreme court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson with an acknowledgement of the ongoing violence in Ukraine, following the Russian invasion of its neighboring country.
“Today, as we watch freedom and liberty under attack abroad, I’m here to fulfill my responsibilities under the Constitution to preserve freedom and liberty here in the United States of America,” Biden said.
“And it’s my honor to introduce to the country a daughter of former public school teachers, a proven consensus-builder, an accomplished lawyer, a distinguished jurist on one of the nation’s most prestigious courts. My nominee for the US supreme court nominate is Judge Ketanji Jackson.”
.@POTUS: "Today, as we watch freedom and liberty under attack abroad I'm here to fulfill my responsibilities under the Constitution to preserve freedom and liberty here in the United States of America...my nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court nominate is Judge Ketanji Jackson." pic.twitter.com/TgyTZnTGY6
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 25, 2022
Biden introduces Jackson as his supreme court nominee
Joe Biden is now speaking at the White House, introducing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the supreme court.
The president noted that he chose Jackson after a rigorous selection process, and he celebrated her historic nomination as the first Black woman to ever be nominated to the supreme court.
“For too long, our government, our courts haven’t looked like America,” Biden said. “I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications.”
Updated
The Capitol rioter who was pictured carrying Nancy Pelosi’s lectern and bragged he had “broken the internet” has been sentenced to 75 days in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Adam Johnson, 37 and from Florida, was photographed carrying the podium at the Capitol on 6 January 2021. He and other supporters of Donald Trump stormed Congress in an attempt to stop certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory, in service of Trump’s lie that his defeat was the result of electoral fraud.
More than 700 people have been charged over the riot, 11 with seditious conspiracy. Johnson will spend time in jail, having pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.
The US Department of Justice requested 90 days imprisonment. It also noted, in an itemisation of Johnson’s activities on 6 January 2021, that he “witnessed rioters attempt to break down the doors to the House chamber and encouraged them to do so by shouting that a bust of George Washington would make ‘a great battering ram’”.
In court today, assistant US attorney Jessica Arco said: “Mr Johnson was part of a mob. He knew that.”
Lawyers for Johnson said his five children would suffer if he was jailed.
Of his viral photograph at the Capitol, they said: “Unfortunately, he received considerable attention simply because the lectern belonged to Speaker of the House. Arguably, if he latched onto some other piece of government furniture for his photo opportunity jail time would not even be a consideration.”
The judge, Reggie B Walton, disagreed.
“We’re on a dangerous slide in America,” he said, calling January 6 something he would ordinarily expect to see in “banana republics”.
Johnson said he was ashamed. He also said he never intended to hurt Pelosi and said: “If I did find her, I would ask for a selfie with her, if anything.”
Speaking of polls…
More Republicans have a negative view of Joe Biden than of Vladimir Putin and more Democrats have a negative view of Donald Trump than of the Russian leader, according to a new poll.
The findings point to deep domestic divisions as well as disagreement over Biden’s handling of the Ukraine crisis.
Fox News released the poll, which it said was carried out before Russia invaded Ukraine.
It said 92% of Republicans had a negative view of Biden while 81% had a negative view of Putin. Among Democrats, 87% had a negative view of Trump and 85% a negative view of Putin.
Biden has condemned the Russian invasion and introduced tough economic sanctions, in concert with other world powers.
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin and criticised Biden, on Thursday adapting a favorite golfing metaphor to claim the Russian leader was playing his counterpart “like a drum”.
Trump’s attacks are in line with those from Republicans in Congress, who claim Biden has been too weak on Russia, both as president and as vice-president under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
In the Fox News poll, 56% said Biden had not been tough enough on Russia, 8% said he had been too tough and 29% said he had been about right.
Among Democrats, 42% of respondents said they wanted Biden to be tougher and 47% said his actions were about right.
Obama salutes pick, poll indicates division
In a statement, Barack Obama, the first Black president, has welcomed the news that Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman nominated to the supreme court.
“I want to congratulate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Obama said. “… Judge Jackson has already inspired young Black women like my daughters to set their sights higher, and her confirmation will help them believe they can be anything they want to be.”
A new ABC News-Washington Post poll suggests the American people are a little less clear on the issue, and that where they fall depends in large part on their political views.
In the poll, 45% said a Black woman on the court would be a good thing and 48% said it would make no difference. Only 4% said it would be a bad thing. Black Americans said the appointment would be a good thing by two to one, ABC reports.
Getting to the crux, however, ABC adds: “These split results hide wide partisan divides. Biden had the confidence of a vast majority of Democrats, 89%, falling to 43% of independents and just 18% of Republicans. In terms of intensity, nearly twice as many independents were not at all confident as were very confident in Biden’s ability to pick a good nominee, 39% versus 20%.
“In a similar partisan division, 78% of Democrats say a Black female justice would be a good thing for the United States, versus 42% of independents and 16% of Republicans.”
Today so far
Here’s where the day stands so far:
- Joe Biden announced he will nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the supreme court. Jackson, who will replace Justice Stephen Breyer if confirmed, is the first Black woman to ever be nominated to the supreme court. She currently serves as a judge on the DC Circuit Court, a role that she was confirmed to last year.
- Biden praised Jackson as “one of the nation’s brightest legal minds”. In a video message, Biden described Jackson as :an immensely qualified judge who’s going to help make our court stronger and more reflective of our country”. Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks on the nomination in about an hour.
- Senate Democrats said they would move quickly to confirm Jackson. “Judge Jackson’s achievements are well known to the Senate Judiciary Committee as we approved her to the D.C. Circuit less than a year ago with bipartisan support,” said Dick Durbin, the chairman of the panel. “We will begin immediately to move forward on her nomination with the careful, fair, and professional approach she and America are entitled to.”
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Biden praises Jackson as 'one of the nation's brightest legal minds'
Joe Biden has released a video praising his supreme court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, as “one of the nation’s brightest legal minds”.
In the video, Biden recounts Jackson’s rise to the highest echelons of the legal world, which included a stint as a clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer, who she will now replace on the court if confirmed.
“With Justice Breyer’s retirement from the United States supreme court and my constitutional responsibility to replace that justice, I’ve sought a candidate with the strongest credentials, record, character and dedication to the rule of law,” Biden says in the video.
“That’s why I’m excited to nominate one of the nation’s brightest legal minds, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to be our next supreme court justice.”
I sought a nominee with the strongest credentials, record, character, and dedication to the rule of law. That’s why I’m excited to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the United States Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/iGHLqqRAD0
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 25, 2022
Biden notes that Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate three times with bipartisan support, most recently last year when she was nominated to the DC Circuit story.
“She’s a history-maker, the first Black woman ever to be nominated to the supreme court -- an immensely qualified judge who’s going to help make our court stronger and more reflective of our country,” Biden said. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks on the nomination in about an hour, so stay tuned.
Updated
Pompeo shifts tone and attacks Putin as 'dictator'
Mike Pompeo, a former US secretary of state, has branded Vladimir Putin a “dictator” in a shift from earlier rhetoric that appeared to praise the Russian leader.
“We’ve seen a Russian dictator now terrorise the Ukrainian people because America didn’t demonstrate the resolve that we did for the four years prior,” Pompeo told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday.
America’s top diplomat under President Donald Trump has been criticised for describing Putin as “talented”, “savvy” and a “capable statesman” in recent media interviews. The remarks have been echoed by Trump and even rebroadcast on Russian television.
But in his CPAC address, Pompeo seemed more concerned with accusing Joe Biden of weakness in the face of the Russian threat. “We see on our TV the bombs, the missiles, the Soviet tanks - the Russian tanks moving across Ukraine,” he said.
“My first assignment when I was a young lieutenant was I was in a border unit patrolling what was then the East German border. It was the last time we had Americans in Europe standing face to face with the Russians,” Pompeo added.
“How did we prevail? It was peace through strength. It was [President Ronald] Reagan’s model. It was the model that we used for four years in the Trump administration. We put America first and we told people around the world, you cannot tread on us.”
Pompeo, seen as a potential contender for the Republican nomination in 2024, disclosed in January that he lost more than 90lb (41kg) over six months after making lifestyle changes He told CPAC: “I was out talking to you some this morning. The most common question was, ‘Like, how do you lose all that weight?’ It’s hard work and pray that I can keep it up, would you at all? I would appreciate that.”
Earlier Marco Rubio, Republican senator for Florida, told the conference: “The people of Ukraine are inspiring to the world... These are people that are basically saying we refuse to be Putin’s slaves, we refuse to live under tyranny, we’re prepared to give our life and die for it.”
Kamala Harris celebrated the supreme court nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying her historic selection as the first Black woman to be nominated to the high court would clear the way for other Black women in the future.
“She is eminently qualified to serve our nation on our highest court. And while she will be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Judge Jackson will not be the last,” Harris said on Twitter.
“The first but not the last” has become somewhat of a motto for Harris, who has repeatedly broken barriers in her political career and is now the first Black woman to ever serve as US vice-president.
President Biden has nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. She is eminently qualified to serve our nation on our highest court. And while she will be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Judge Jackson will not be the last. https://t.co/sSZCgiI26E pic.twitter.com/wgRYFNgLeK
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) February 25, 2022
One Senate Republican, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, attacked the timing of Joe Biden’s supreme court announcement, arguing that it was “inappropriate” given the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“President Biden’s announcement just days after an unprovoked full scale invasion by Russia is extremely inappropriate,” Blackburn said. “Once again, Biden is putting the demands of the radical progressive left ahead of what is best for our nation.”
President Biden’s announcement just days after an unprovoked full scale invasion by Russia is extremely inappropriate. Once again, Biden is putting the demands of the radical progressive left ahead of what is best for our nation.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) February 25, 2022
Despite that criticism, Blackburn said she intends to meet with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to properly vet her nomination to the supreme court.
“I cannot hold President Biden’s failure to lead our nation against his nominee,” Blackburn said. “I do plan on meeting with the President’s nominee in person, and thoroughly vetting her record to determine if she is a person of high character.”
But it seems extremely unlikely that Blackburn would support Jackson, given her opposition to the judge’s nomination to the DC Circuit Court last year.
Doug Jones, the former Democratic senator who will guide Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson through the Senate confirmation process, celebrated her nomination.
“Judge Jackson has an amazing personal and professional story,” Jones said on Twitter. “Her character and qualifications are impeccable. I look forward to assisting her in this historic confirmation.”
Judge Jackson has an amazing personal and professional story. Her character and qualifications are impeccable. I look forward to assisting her in this historic confirmation. https://t.co/mMP889HsOT
— Doug Jones (@DougJones46) February 25, 2022
The White House announced earlier this month that Jones, who had previously been a contender for attorney general, would serve as the so-called “sherpa” for Biden’s nominee.
In that role, Jones will help prepare Jackson for her vetting meetings with senators of both parties and her confirmation hearings, as Democrats promise a speedy process.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has received praise from a somewhat surprising person: Paul Ryan, the former Republican speaker of the House.
“Janna and I are incredibly happy for Ketanji and her entire family. Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji’s intellect, for her character, and for her integrity, is unequivocal,” Ryan said on Twitter.
Janna and I are incredibly happy for Ketanji and her entire family. Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji's intellect, for her character, and for her integrity, is unequivocal.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) February 25, 2022
But the praise is not as surprising when one considers the connections between Jackson and Ryan; they are actually related by marriage.
The twin brother of Jackson’s husband is married to Ryan’s sister-in-law, so the two have known each other for years. Ryan even introduced Jackson at her first Senate confirmation hearing in 2012.
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell seems to be a likely “no” vote on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the supreme court.
“The Senate must conduct a rigorous, exhaustive review of Judge Jackson’s nomination as befits a lifetime appointment to our highest Court,” the Republican leader said in a new statement.
McConnell noted that he voted against Jackson’s confirmation to the DC Circuit Court last year, and he attacked her as “the favored choice of far-left dark-money groups that have spent years attacking the legitimacy and structure of the Court itself”.
I look forward to meeting with Judge Jackson in person and carefully reviewing her nomination during the vigorous and thorough Senate process that the American people deserve. My full statement: https://t.co/cpUAz1Mcq2
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) February 25, 2022
“With that said, I look forward to carefully reviewing Judge Jackson’s nomination during the vigorous and thorough Senate process that the American people deserve,” McConnell concluded.
It’s worth noting that McConnell has been fiercely criticized by Democrats for his handling of supreme court nominations.
McConnell refused to schedule a hearing for Merrick Garland, who was nominated to the supreme court by Barack Obama in 2016, and he then oversaw the rushed confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election.
It’s worth noting that three Senate Republicans -- Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski -- supported Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the DC Circuit Court last year.
Of those three Republicans, one of them has already indicated opposition to Jackson’s nomination to the supreme court.
Graham, who had hoped that Joe Biden would instead nominate South Carolina Judge Michelle Childs, attacked Jackson’s nomination as a win for the “radical Left” this morning.
If media reports are accurate, and Judge Jackson has been chosen as the Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Breyer, it means the radical Left has won President Biden over yet again.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 25, 2022
The attacks by the Left on Judge Childs from South Carolina apparently worked.
But Collins appears to be taking a more open-minded approach to Jackson’s nomination, saying she will go through the vetting process before making a decision on her confirmation.
“Ketanji Brown Jackson is an experienced federal judge with impressive academic and legal credentials,” Collins said.
“I will conduct a thorough vetting of Judge Jackson’s nomination and look forward to her public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee and to meeting with her in my office.”
As of now, there’s no word from Murkowski on how she might handle Jackson’s nomination.
Joe Biden will deliver remarks on his nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the supreme court at 2pm ET today, the White House has just announced.
Kamala Harris will also be in attendance for the event, during which Jackson is also expected to deliver remarks of her own.
The daily White House briefing, which was originally scheduled to begin at 2pm, has now been pushed back to 3pm.
Senate judiciary committee will 'immediately' take up Jackson's nomination, chair says
Dick Durbin, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, said the panel would move quickly to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson now that Joe Biden has announced her nomination to the supreme court.
“From a strong list of prospective candidates, President Biden has chosen an extraordinary nominee in D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Durbin said in a statement after Biden confirmed the news.
“To be the first to make history in our nation you need to have an exceptional life story. Judge Jackson’s achievements are well known to the Senate Judiciary Committee as we approved her to the D.C. Circuit less than a year ago with bipartisan support.”
Jackson was confirmed to the DC Circuit last year in a vote of 53 to 44, with all Democrats and three Republicans -- Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski -- supporting her nomination.
Durbin concluded, “We will begin immediately to move forward on her nomination with the careful, fair, and professional approach she and America are entitled to.”
Biden announces nomination of Jackson to serve on supreme court
Joe Biden has now made it official: he has chosen Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the supreme court, making her the first Black woman to ever be nominated to the high court.
“I’m proud to announce that I am nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court,” the president said on Twitter.
“Currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, she is one of our nation’s brightest legal minds and will be an exceptional Justice.”
I’m proud to announce that I am nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court. Currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, she is one of our nation’s brightest legal minds and will be an exceptional Justice.https://t.co/iePvhz1YaA pic.twitter.com/Nzqv2AtN8h
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 25, 2022
The White House has said that Biden will deliver remarks on the nomination this afternoon. Jackson will also be in attendance for the event and will deliver remarks of her own.
“Since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, President Biden has conducted a rigorous process to identify his replacement,” the White House said in a statement.
“Judge Jackson is an exceptionally qualified nominee as well as an historic nominee, and the Senate should move forward with a fair and timely hearing and confirmation.”
Schumer confirms Biden will nominate Jackson to supreme court
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has confirmed that Joe Biden will nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the supreme court.
“With her exceptional qualifications and record of evenhandedness, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be a Justice who will uphold the constitution and protect the rights of all Americans, including the voiceless and vulnerable,” Schumer said in a new statement.
“A true public servant and model jurist, Judge Jackson has demonstrated a commitment to America’s foundational principles of freedom, equality, and the rule of law throughout her career.”
With her exceptional qualifications, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be a Justice who will uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of all Americans, including the voiceless and vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/PYuBv5Y2UC
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 25, 2022
Acknowledging Jackson’s historic selection as the first Black woman to ever be nominated to serve on the court, Schumer said Biden’s choice represented “an important step toward ensuring the Supreme Court reflects the nation as a whole”.
“Once the President sends Judge Jackson’s nomination to the Senate, Senate Democrats will work to ensure a fair, timely, and expeditious process – fair to the nominee, to the Senate, and to the American public,” Schumer said.
“Under Chairman Durbin’s leadership, Judge Jackson will receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks. After the Judiciary Committee finishes their work I will ask the Senate to move immediately to confirm her to the Supreme Court.”
Democrats praise reports of Biden's 'historic' supreme court nominee Jackson
Although Joe Biden has not officially announced his supreme court nominee, Democrats are already celebrating reports that he has chosen Ketanji Brown Jackson for the seat.
“Some good news to start our day: @POTUS has officially announced the exceptionally brilliant Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to #SCOTUS,” Congresswoman Lois Frankel said on Twitter.
“This is a historic day for women, for #BIPOC representation, and for our Judiciary!”
Some good news to start our day: @POTUS has officially announced the exceptionally brilliant Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to #SCOTUS.
— Rep. Lois Frankel (@RepLoisFrankel) February 25, 2022
This is a historic day for women, for #BIPOC representation, and for our Judiciary!https://t.co/wWn049a2FY
Congressman Mondaire Jones echoed Frankel’s view, describing Jackson as “an intellectual heavyweight and highly regarded jurist who has dedicated her life and career to the service of others”.
“I applaud President Biden for making history with this nomination, as well as for making the perfect choice,” Jones said.
“It’s about time we had a Black woman, and a former public defender, on the Supreme Court. I look forward to her speedy confirmation.”
Of course, as House members, neither Frankel nor Jones will have a say in Jackson’s Senate confirmation, but the Democratic-controlled upper chamber is expected to move quickly to confirm Biden’s nominee.
Updated
Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination will not affect the ideological composition of the court, controlled by a conservative super-majority of six justices, including three appointed by Donald Trump, but it does secure a liberal seat on the bench for at least a generation.
The nomination represents a welcome bright spot for Joe Biden, whose approval ratings have fallen to record lows as he confronts myriad crises at home and abroad. It is also his most significant opportunity yet to shape the federal judiciary, which remains overwhelmingly white and male.
In his first year, Biden nominated a record number of district and appeals court judges from a range of racial, ethnic, geographical and legal backgrounds.
Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill have said they intend to move forward quickly with the confirmation process. It will be the first Supreme Court confirmation hearing for a Democratic president since Elana Kagan was nominated by Barack Obama twelve years ago.
Republicans refused to hold a hearing for Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, which further poisoned what has become scorched-earth affairs.
If Joe Biden confirms today that he will nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to the supreme court, the announcement will come exactly two years after he first made the pledge to nominate a Black woman to the court.
During the February 2020 Democratic primary debate in South Carolina, Biden promised that he would use his first supreme court opening to nominate a Black woman, which would mark a historic first for the US.
Asked at the debate about what his personal motto is, Biden replied, “When you get knocked down, get up, and everyone’s entitled to be treated with dignity no matter what, no matter who they are. Also, that everyone should be represented, that no one is better than me and I’m no better than anyone else.”
He then pivoted to the court, saying, “We talked about the supreme court. I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the supreme court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented.”
Biden to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to supreme court
Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.
Joe Biden has decided to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the supreme court, according to multiple reports. If confirmed, Jackson will become the first Black woman to ever serve on the US supreme court.
CNN reports:
Jackson, 51, currently sits on DC’s federal appellate court and had been considered the front-runner for the vacancy since [Breyer] announced his retirement.
She received and accepted Biden’s offer in a call Thursday night, a source familiar with the decision told CNN.
Biden had promised to announce his nominee by the end of the month, but there had been questions over whether that deadline would shift because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Once Biden makes his decision official, Jackson will need to go through the Senate confirmation process in order to join the court. Despite the bitter battles over supreme court nominations in recent years, Jackson is expected to be confirmed by the Democratic majority in the Senate.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
