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HostileJudiciary / Supreme Court

Commit that if a Supreme Court vacancy occurred in the last year of a Republican president's term, he would let the next president make the nomination, explicitly inviting the public to hold him to it.

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HostileFact-checker reviewConfidence: 97%

HOSTILE upheld after source verification. (1) The promise and its self-accountability invitation are verified: PolitiFact documents Graham's March 2016 statement — "you can say Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination" — plus his explicit invitation, "you could use my words against me, and you'd be absolutely right." (2) The exact triggering scenario arose: Justice Ginsburg died in the final year of Trump's (a Republican president's) term, Sept 2020. (3) Graham did the direct opposite AND championed it: PolitiFact and NPR confirm he publicly reversed, tweeting he would "support President Trump in any effort to move forward," and NPR describes him acting "as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee" who moved the nomination forward — i.e., he led the process, not merely voted. (4) The PRIMARY Senate roll call (Vote 116-2-224) confirms Barrett was confirmed 52-48 with "Graham (R-SC), Yea." Because Graham not only broke a promise he had invited the public to hold him to, but personally led and publicly championed the opposing effort as Judiciary Committee chairman, HOSTILE (not merely MISALIGNED) is the correct rating and does not overstate the cited evidence.

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