After snubbing Trump, ex-senator Ayotte shepherds court pick

After snubbing Trump, ex-senator Ayotte shepherds court pick | iNFOnews.ca
Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch, accompanied by former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, left, shakes hands with Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-Calif., ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte didn’t vote for President Donald Trump, and she won’t get to vote for his Supreme Court nominee after losing her U.S. Senate seat in November.

But Ayotte is helping Neil Gorsuch navigate the confirmation process. Ayotte was tapped by the Trump administration to introduce Gorsuch to senators and escort him to meetings and the confirmation hearing.

The role is a prominent one for someone with a rocky relationship with the new president. After months last year of supporting Trump but not endorsing him, Ayotte rescinded her support and wrote in Mike Pence for president instead.

Trump nominated Gorsuch on Tuesday to replace Antonin Scalia, who died last year. The vacancy went unfilled because the GOP Senate leader refused to hold hearings on the Obama nominee.

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