The following is a fact-check of the May 16, 2010 episode of Meet the Press:


SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY) | “I’ve never filibustered a Supreme Court nomination” – TRUE

SEN. McCONNELL: I’ve never filibustered a Supreme Court nomination.

From crowd-sourcer James:

It’s true that McConnell has never filibustered a Supreme Court nomination. There have only been four: Abe Fortas in 1968, Rehquist twice, in 1971 and 1986, and Samuel Alito in 2006. All were unsuccessful. McConnell was elected to the Senate in 1984, so he has only had two chances to join a filibuster of a Supreme Court nomination, Rehnquist for Chief Justice, and Samuel Alito. Those two filibusters — though it is disputed whether the Rehnquist debate was actually a filibuster — were mounted by the Democrats, and it is true, McConnell did not join them.

Page 2 of this pdf by the Congressional Research Service has detailed information and history on cloture attempts on nominations. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32878.pdf

James’ research and conclusion is sound. Senator McConnell’s statement gets a TRUE.


This fact-check took a combined 25 minutes.