WASHINGTON _ U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch told a Democratic senator he found Donald Trump's comments "disheartening" and "demoralizing" when the president criticized the judiciary over a federal court order that blocked his immigration ban.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told reporters about Gorsuch's comments after meeting privately Wednesday with Trump's first U.S. high court nominee. Ron Bonjean, a spokesman aiding Gorsuch in the confirmation process, confirmed Blumenthal's account of their conversation in an email and said Gorsuch "used the words disheartening and demoralizing."
"He certainly expressed to me that he is disheartened by demoralizing, abhorrent comments made by President Trump about the judiciary," Blumenthal said at the Capitol. "But I will be asking for more specific and forthcoming comments to those kinds of questions before I determine how I will vote."
On Saturday, Trump criticized a federal judge who blocked his travel ban as a "so-called judge." On Wednesday, the president argued that his power to limit immigration shouldn't be challenged in courts.
"The courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right, and that has got to do with the security of our country, which is so important," Trump told a conference of police chiefs and sheriffs in Washington.
