Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh told her in a private meeting that he considers Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion, to be "settled law," according to The Hill.
Ms. Collins is considered a swing vote for Mr. Kavanaugh's nomination, as she has broken rank with her Republican colleagues before in matters relating to healthcare and abortion. Mr. Kavanaugh's views on abortion came under close scrutiny after President Donald Trump announced his nomination, and Roe v. Wade was one of the main focuses of the nearly two-hour meeting between him and Ms. Collins.
"We talked about whether he considered Roe to be settled law. And he said that agreed with what Justice [John] Roberts said at his nomination hearing, at which he said that it was settled law,” said Ms. Collins, according to The Hill.
However, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is skeptical that Mr. Kavanaugh's statements mean he will not take aim at Roe v. Wade once appointed.
"This is not as simple as Judge Kavanaugh is saying Roe is settled law. Everything the Supreme Court decides is settled law until it unsettles it. Saying a case is settled law is not the same thing as saying a case was correctly decided," said Mr. Schumer.