Biden speaks in Philadelphia on the legacy of RBG and Supreme Court vacancy, White House responds

PHILADELPHIA (NewsNation Now) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said at a campaign event Sunday that America should wait to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat.

“As a nation, we should heed her final call to us — not as a personal service to her, but as a service to the country at a crossroads,” said Biden at a campaign event at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Biden remembered Ginsburg as “a righteous soul” and called for President Donald Trump to honor her dying wish.

Ginsburg’s granddaughter said her dying words were: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

Ginsburg died Friday, Sept. 18 at 87 of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer, the court said.  

Trump’s campaign said in a statement Sunday, “When there’s a Supreme Court vacancy, the President selects a nominee and the Senate provides advice and consent. That’s what the Constitution says and those are the only rules. There has been an open seat on the Supreme Court in a presidential election year 29 times in American history, and in every single case the president has nominated a candidate.”

Biden said he should nominate the next Supreme Court justice if he’s selected as president.

“As the new President, I should be the one who nominates Justice Ginsburg’s successor, a nominee who should get a fair hearing in the Senate before a confirmation vote,” said Biden.

Trump is expected to announce a new nominee this coming week.