Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday he supports Chief Judge Merrick Garland to take over as the next FBI director, and recommended him to the White House for the post.
“Actually I have spoken to the president about it, I recommended Merrick Garland,” McConnell told Bloomberg, admitting that it “may surprise some people.”
“But he has a deep background in criminal law, he was the prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case and I think it would make it clear that President Trump will continue the tradition at the FBI of having an apolitical professional,” McConnell said.
“It would be good to have Democratic support, and I think if he picks someone with a deep background in law enforcement who has no history of political involvement, a genuine expert … it will serve him well, serve the country well, and lead to I think a more bipartisan approach,” McConnell added.
The suggestion was first floated by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, last week, and was welcomed by many Democrats and several Republicans. Republicans could also support the pick because it would open up a highly-coveted seat on the crucial D.C. circuit court of appeals.
