Warren Rips Senate Republicans

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is offering a stinging rebuke to Senate Republicans who say they won't consider anyone President Barack Obama nominates to the Supreme Court.

The Massachusetts Democrat says the Constitution requires the president to make nominations with the advice and consent of the Senate. She says there's no secret clause that says ``except when that President is a Democrat.''

Warren made the comments Wednesday on the floor of a largely empty Senate chamber.

She says Republicans are panicking because their party seems on the verge of nominating one of two extremists for president, an apparent reference to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

Senate Republican leaders say filling the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia should be left to the next president.  (Associated Press)