WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has summoned 10 senators to the White House to urge them to confirm his Supreme Court nominee.
Trump is meeting at the White House with both Republicans and Democrats, and telling them Judge Neil Gorsuch is "exceptionally qualified" and has "great intellect."
The president also is repeating his assertion that comments Gorsuch made appearing to distance himself from Trump were - in Trump's word - "misrepresented."
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut says Gorsuch told him that Trump's critical comments about a judge who ruled against his refugee and immigration ban were "demoralizing" and "disheartening."
Former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who's working with Gorsuch on the confirmation process, later said Gorsuch was speaking broadly about any criticism of judicial independence, and not about a specific case.
