ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska Federation of Natives does not support President Donald Trump’s pick for the empty U.S. Supreme Court seat.
The group said in a statement Wednesday that it opposes Brett Kavanaugh’s statements and decisions on Native rights cases, Alaska Public Media reported . The federation is also concerned that Kavanaugh is more conservative than the current justices whose positions on Native rights could be disastrous for Alaska.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has received strong support from the federation in the past, has met with Kavanaugh and said she would be mulling over his record.
Murkowski’s position on abortion and reproductive-rights issues makes her a key vote in Kavanaugh’s confirmation. She has also shown in the past willingness to break from her fellow Republicans.
The moderate Republican senator has not indicated how she might vote.
Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King held a rally outside of Murkowski’s Anchorage office earlier this week, saying she shouldn’t bow to Trump. King said he is disturbed by Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump’s attitude toward the late Arizona Sen. John McCain.
He doesn’t expect Trump’s nominee for the seat left empty after the retirement of Anthony Kennedy to have more regard or decency than Trump, he said.
He reminded Murkowski: “You’re our senator, not Trump’s.”
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