Thread by @NBCNews

BREAKING NBC News Special Report: US Supreme Court Justice Kennedy is retiring. nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn periscope.tv/w/1yNGaXzWpvbKj

The vacancy will allow President Trump to make the U.S. Supreme court a solidly conservative body for years, if not generations, to come — a towering legacy of his time in office. nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

Kennedy's departure on July 31, which had been rumored for the last year, could also put in doubt the future of a nationwide right of access to abortion. nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn - @PeteWilliamsNBC

@PeteWilliamsNBC BREAKING: President Trump praises Justice Kennedy, and announces that the search for a replacement on the US Supreme Court will begin immediately. nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

@PeteWilliamsNBC US Supreme Court announcement of Justice Kennedy's forthcoming retirement. nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

@PeteWilliamsNBC White House statement on Justice Kennedy:

"Justice Kennedy has been a tireless voice for individual rights and the Founders’ enduring vision of limited government. His words have left an indelible mark not only on this generation, but on the fabric of American history."

@PeteWilliamsNBC JUST IN: Majority Leader McConnell says US Senate will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy's successor on the US Supreme Court this fall. nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

@PeteWilliamsNBC JUST IN: “There’s no presidential election this year," Majority Leader McConnell says when asked if he thinks it is fair to bring up a US Supreme Court nominee during an election year after blocking President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland during an election year.

@PeteWilliamsNBC Majority Leader McConnell says Senate will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy's successor this fall:

"It is imperative that the president’s nominee be considered fairly and not be subjected to personal attacks."

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@PeteWilliamsNBC BREAKING: Sen. Schumer says "Our Republican colleagues in the Senate should follow the rule they set in 2016: Not to consider a Supreme Court justice in an election year." nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

@PeteWilliamsNBC Sen. Schumer: "Nothing less than the fate of our health care system, reproductive rights for women, and countless other protections for middle-class Americans are at stake." nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

@PeteWilliamsNBC Sen. Durbin: "With so much at stake for the people of our country, the U.S. Senate must be consistent and consider the President’s nominee once the new Congress is seated in January." nbcnews.to/2KeKUqn

@PeteWilliamsNBC Senate Judiciary Cmte. Chairman Grassley:

"I expect the President will soon nominate someone for the Senate to consider ... I look forward to having the nominee before us in the Senate Judiciary Committee for his or her hearing in the weeks ahead.”

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@PeteWilliamsNBC Minority Leader Schumer: "The Senate should reject, on a bipartisan basis, any justice who would overturn Roe v. Wade or undermine key healthcare protections."

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@PeteWilliamsNBC Sen. Feinstein: "There should be no consideration of a Supreme Court nominee until the American people have a chance to weigh in ... McConnell set that standard in 2016 when he denied Judge Garland a hearing for nearly a year, and the Senate should follow the McConnell Standard."