| WASHINGTON — Senator Charles E. Grassley, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, on Monday invited President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee to breakfast to explain, face to face, why Republicans have no intention of holding hearings on his appointment.
Aides to Mr. Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said that no date for the breakfast with the nominee, Merrick B. Garland, the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, had been scheduled.
Mr. Grassley had already indicated that he would be willing to meet with Judge Garland, even though many Republicans, including Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, have said they will forgo the usual courtesy calls that Supreme Court nominees make.
But Mr. Grassley’s staff made clear that the invitation was not evidence that his resolve against holding hearings was weakening. Beth Levine, his communications director, said Mr. Grassley was merely being “a gentleman.”
“Only this White House can turn being a nice person into weakening his resolve,” Ms. Levine said. “He hasn’t wavered on this, despite the millions of dollars being thrown against him by a coordinated effort by the White House.”
Administration officials declined to comment on the invitation.
Mr. Obama’s allies said Mr. Grassley’s decision could suggest that he was sensitive to accusations that he was preventing Congress from carrying out its obligations. And it could add to pressure on Senate Republicans to hold similar meetings with Judge Garland.
So far, more than a dozen Republican senators have said they would be willing to meet with Judge Garland. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and John Boozman of Arkansas plan to do so on Tuesday. |