WASHINGTON – Before President Obama announced his pick to replace Justice Antonin Scalia Wednesday morning, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) reaffirmed his commitment to let the American people have a voice in that pick.

“The president has full and complete power to nominate individuals to the Supreme Court, as he will reportedly do later today,” Sen. Lee said. “But the Constitution also gives the Senate the full and complete power to reject or confirm the nominee,” Lee continued. “It’s as simple as that.”

“In light of the contentious presidential election already well underway, my colleagues and I on the Judiciary Committee have already given our advice and consent on this issue: we will not have any hearings or votes on President Obama’s pick.”

“Any meeting with any nominee put forward by President Obama would only be a waste of the Senate’s time. The Court has very ably dealt with temporary absences in the past and will do so again now.”