The US president gets a headwind from his own camp: Neil Gorsuch, Donald Trumps candidate for the vacant magistrate at the Supreme Court...
The US president gets a headwind from his own camp: Neil Gorsuch, Donald Trumps candidate for the vacant magistrate at the Supreme Court, has expressed his critical opinion about his sponsor.
Background is the dispute over the entry ban for people from seven majority Muslim countries. Trump had mocked the decision of a Federal judge to temporarily suspend the entry stop as "ridiculous" and mocked the federal judge James Robart from Seattle as "so-called judge". The statements were understood by many as a dangerous interference with the independence of the judiciary.
His own favorite for the Supreme Court, Trumps utterances now referred to as "demoralizing and discouraging". This is reported by several US media, citing the democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. The speaker of Gorsuch, Ron Bonjean, confirmed the information.
Trump had nominated Gorsuch at the end of January for the judge's post. At the performance, he described the lawyer, who has been working for Colorado for more than ten years, as a candidate of "brilliant spirit". Gorsuch had not yet publicly spoken. His appointment has yet to be approved by the US Senate.
Gorsuch's criticism of Trump could therefore also be a signal to the Democrats who have spoken against him so far. Senator Blumenthal said, however, that the distance does not go far enough. As a Trumps candidate, Gorsuch has a particular responsibility to make it clear to the US citizens that he will be independent and open, says Blumenthal. He should not hide behind vague formulations, but must clearly say that Trumps attacks on the judiciary are abominable and destructive.
