White House: No delay for Kavanaugh hearings

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House is rejecting calls from Democrats to delay confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Democrats say the hearings should be delayed following the conviction of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, and the guilty plea of Michael Cohen, who implicated Trump in a federal crime.

White House spokesman Raj Shah says the Democrats look "increasingly desperate." He says the confirmation hearings will begin on Sept. 4 as scheduled and Kavanaugh "will be there."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says a delay is needed in the wake of Paul Manafort's conviction and Michael Cohen's guilty plea, calling the developments "a game changer."

Schumer argues that Kavanaugh has refused to answer whether President Donald Trump can be forced to comply with a subpoena. He said that refusal, combined with Cohen implicating Trump in a federal crime, makes the danger of Kavanaugh's nomination "abundantly clear."

He says the president is on the verge of making a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, which may soon determine the extent of his legal jeopardy.

He says the Senate shouldn't confirm a justice who believes that presidents "are virtually above the law and only Congress can check a president's power."