Gov. Murphy Blasts Mitch McConnell For 'Rank Hypocrisy'

NEW JERSEY - After a warm remembrance of presenting an award to the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the halls of the United States Supreme Court, Governor Phil Murphy took aim at Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over his plans to replace her.

"The rank hypocrisy of those like Senator Mitch McConnell is showing," Murphy said at Monday's COVID-19 briefing. "They want to ram a nominee through six weeks before a presidential election when, just four years ago, they refused to offer even a hearing to a nominee whose name was put forward eight months before an election."

Murphy, who has gone after McConnell repeatedly for his lack of movement on a second coronavirus aid package, pulled no punches when it came to McConnell and his party brethren.

"How many Republicans will have the guts to stand up and demand that the process be put on hold until after the nation chooses its next president?" Murphy said. "That’s really a rhetorical question, as so few have shown any guts over the past four years."

Murphy said that the move for Republicans isn’t about the nation’s future.

"It’s a blatant power grab by those whose mission is to undo decades of civil rights progress, protect polluters over the environment, gut health care, and deny a woman the right to make her own reproductive decisions," he said.

Of Ginsberg, Murphy noted that when he "had the distinct honor" of presenting her with the Golden Pea award from the German organization MARCHENLAND Berlin last year she took time after the ceremony to tour the Supreme Court with the visitors and educate them on the paintings of all the justices.

"Tammy Murphy and I will never forget that day," he said. "May her memory be a blessing."

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