On June 24, the Supreme Court shocked the nation by announcing its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate federal abortion rights. CNN reported this week that White House counsel Dana Remus had assured senior aides that the decision would not be issued that Friday, amid growing frustration among Democrats over a perceived lack of urgency from the White House in the wake of Roe.
A new email from the White House dated June 23, in which it said Biden planned to nominate an anti-abortion Republican to a lifetime judicial appointment the next day — the day Roe finally came down — appears to further bolster the idea that the White House did not expect Roe to be overturned that Friday.
The Courier Journal first reported the emails between the White House and Beshear’s office.
Although the White House has not confirmed its intention to select Meredith, the nomination was described by people with knowledge of the matter as part of a possible deal with U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the chamber’s top Republican.
For Biden, any deal could clear the way for some of the dozens of candidates currently in the Senate just months before the midterm elections. As Democrats continue to struggle in the polls, White House officials have begun planning for the possibility of a Republican takeover of the House and possibly the Senate — which would put a significant roadblock in front of any future Biden nominees.
Dealings for judicial nominees are nothing new — Senate realities required them for Biden’s predecessors — and no Republican cares more about the federal judiciary than McConnell.
Meredith has ties to McConnell’s world beyond the commonwealth. He worked for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a former McConnell staffer who is considered a rising star in the Republican Party.
Meredith also worked for Amul Thapar, a federal appeals judge who has long had McConnell’s support. McConnell pushed Thapar as a potential Supreme Court nominee during the Trump administration.
In another email dated June 29, also obtained by CNN through an open records request, Marshall wrote to the same aide in Beshear’s office: “Coulter — Sorry I didn’t include this in the original email, but I wanted to clarify that the e. -The message I sent was pre-decisional and privileged information. Please let me know if you have any questions.”
Meredith has not been nominated yet.
CNN previously reported Biden’s intention to nominate Meredith to the federal judiciary. Beshear, a Democrat, has been highly critical of Biden, saying at a recent news conference: “If the President makes this nomination, it’s indefensible.”
Meredith, who also previously served as deputy counsel to then-Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, defended a state law that requires doctors performing abortions to first perform an ultrasound and describe the image on the screen to the patient.
Reports of his possible candidacy drew sharp criticism not only from Democrats but also from pro-abortion groups.
“Chad Meredith should not be nominated for life. This is unacceptable at any time, but especially after six Supreme Court justices take away a fundamental right from millions of people,” a group of organizations including Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro. – Choice America said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre took multiple questions at the briefing about reports of Biden’s intention to nominate Meredith on Tuesday and insisted the White House does not comment on any judicial vacancies.
When asked more broadly if Biden would ever appoint a judge who does not support abortion rights to the federal court, Jean-Pierre said that was a “hypothetical” scenario that she could not speak about.
Pressed on whether this would be a litmus test for Biden, Jean-Pierre reiterated: “All I can tell you is that we usually don’t talk about vacancies that — where we haven’t made a decision yet, whether it’s a judicial level or the executive power”.
