Democratic leader slams Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch over corporate ties

Charles Schumer led a news conference ahead of next week's Senate hearing

A man walks the steps of the US Supreme Court on January 31, 2017. (Mark Wilson/Getty)

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer on Wednesday accused Judge Neil Gorsuch of favoring corporations in a final attempt to discredit the President’s Supreme Court nominee.

His comments come after The New York Times revealed ties between Judge Gorsuch and billionaire Philip Anschutz. In the early 2000s, Mr Gorsuch represented Mr Anschutz and his business as an outside counsel.

And in 2006, the billionaire reportedly lobbied Colorado’s Republican senator and the Bush administration in order to secure Mr Gorsuch a seat on the federal appeals court. Ever since his appointment, the judge been a frequent speaker at Mr Anschutz’s annual dove-hunting retreats.

Ahead of next week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that will consider Judge Gorsuch’s nomination, Mr Schumer said that the Supreme Court pick favors corporations and the wealthy over everyday American citizens.

“Judge Gorsuch may act like a neutral, calm judge, but his record and career clearly show he harbors a right-wing, pro-corporate special interest agenda,” the New York Democrat said in a news conference on Wednesday.

In the past, Mr Anschutz reportedly made donations to the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, two conservative groups that created extensive lists of potential candidates for President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court.

“It’s also another contradiction in President Trump,” Mr Schumer said alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat. “He campaigned and talks about helping average folks, his first nominee to the Supreme Court has an instinctive reaction to side with big special corporate interest over average folks.”