Sen. Grassley to vote against Sotomayor

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, announced in a press release that he will vote against Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Sen. Tom Coburn, Okla., is the only Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to not yet announce his intended vote at tomorrow’s meeting. Sen. Lindsey Graham, S.C., is the only Republican member of the committee to say he will vote for Judge Sotomayor.

Sen. Grassley’s statement said:  “At her confirmation hearing, I asked specific questions about the property rights of private citizens afforded by the Fifth Amendment.  My colleagues asked detailed questions about the now famous Ricci case, the right to privacy and the Second Amendment right to bear arms.  I was not convinced that Judge Sotomayor understands the rights given to Americans under the Constitution, or that she will refrain from expanding or restricting those rights based on her personal preferences.  I am not certain that Judge Sotomayor won’t allow those personal beliefs and preferences to dictate the outcome of cases before her.  There’s no question that nominees have become quite adept at dodging our questions, but her lack of clear and direct answers to simple questions regarding the Constitution were troubling.  Some of her answers were so at odds with statements she has made over the years, that it was difficult to reconcile them.”