Donald Trump has announced that he intends to name his nominee to the US Supreme Court to replace the late liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Friday or Saturday of this week, as his attorneys face an appellate court hearing over subpoenas for the president’s tax records.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance revealed on Monday that his office has evidence to justify a grand jury probe into allegations of tax and insurance fraud, among other crimes involving the president and his business.
The president told reporters and supporters that the White House is vetting five women to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat following the death of the liberal justice on 18 Septemer.
Reportedly ahead of the pack is Amy Coney Barrett, who met with the president at the White House on Monday.
“I have one or two that I think — they're all outstanding, but I have one or two that I have in mind,” the president told reporters before he travelled to campaign events in Ohio.
Meanwhile his Republican peers on Capitol Hill appear primed to support any conservative nominee Mr Trump puts forward.
Only two GOP senators saying they still do not believe it is appropriate to fill the vacancy this close to the November election.
Chuck Grassley became the latest Republican to reverse his previous positions about confirming an appointee during an election year, which he opposed in 2018 and 2016.
A Morning Consult survey found that Democratic voters who said the Supreme Court was “very important” in their ballot decision spiked 12 per cent in the days after Justice Ginsburg’s death.
Follow live coverage as it happened
Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
