I can't find anything where he explained his reasoning? His tone in the statement makes it appear he knows something however?
***GRASSLEY***CNN***I’m sure he’s thinking about how long it takes to process a nomination, do the appropriate background checks, that sort of thing, maybe that’s what he’s thinking. But we’ll just have to wait and see. I assure you that if there’s a vacancy, Senator (Mitch) McConnell and Senator Grassley will make that a priority,” Cornyn said.
Grassley’s comments came just before a contentious committee meeting where Democrats accused Republicans, once again, of moving too quickly in pushing through President Trump’s lower court nominees. Grassley’s goal is to confirm five district judges and at least one circuit judge every other week between now and December. Democrats are using the few procedural tools available to them in an attempt to slow the process.
Grassley also commented upon the impact the next election could have on Trump’s goal to reshape the judiciary.
“If we have a Democrat Senate, you’re never going to get the kind of people that are strict constructionists that [White House Counsel] Don McGahn is getting up to us,” he said.
If the Democrats were to win the Senate, nominees would be “a little more like Kennedy,” he said.
*************POLITICO****Now that Trump is in charge, and the Senate majority is in play, Grassley wants to go as fast as possible.
“Giving a push of Supreme Court justices toward retirement raises some serious questions. And in light of what happened to Merrick Garland I think Republicans ought to think twice,” said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “It is a signal that they are worried about future control of the Senate in light of a Supreme Court vacancy.”
“What is their rule?” asked Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) of Republicans. “There is no rule.”
Chatter about the high court has been increasing in Republican circles, both as a motivator for conservatives ahead of the election and as a potential problem if Republicans lose the Senate to Democrats this fall — a long-shot, but not impossible, scenario. Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) kicked off the open rumination earlier this year, suggesting that “Kennedy is going to retire around sometime early summer” and that it would help motivate the GOP base in tight races like his own reelection campaign in Nevada.
Meanwhile, McConnell has prioritized the confirmation of lifetime judicial appointments to lower courts above all else the rest of the year. On Thursday, the Senate confirmed its 17th circuit judge of the year, the fastest pace in more than 40 years for a new president.
“I would think we should confirm any nominee to the Supreme Court promptly, and I think that would be the overwhelming consensus among Republicans,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). “There is a very significant possibility of a vacancy this summer.”
****Snippettes I found..hope it helps