Barrett closes in on court; Dems cry ‘sham’
WASHINGTON — Republicans powered Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett closer to confirmation Thursday, pushing past Democratic objections and other priorities during the COVID-19 crisis in the drive to seat President Donald Trump’s pick before the Nov. 3 election.
The Senate Judiciary Committee set Oct. 22 for its vote to recommend Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate, with a final confirmation vote expected by month’s end.
“A sham,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-minn. “Power grab,” protested Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-conn. “Not normal,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-ill.
“You don’t convene a Supreme Court confirmation hearing, in the middle of a pandemic, when the Senate’s on recess, when voting has already started in the presidential election in a majority of
states,” declared Sen. Chris Coons, D-del.
Republicans eager to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg countered that Trump is well within bounds to fill the vacancy, andtheyhavethevotes to doit. Relying on a slim Senate majority,
Trump’srepublicans are poised to lock a 6-3 conservative court majority for years to come.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-texas, said he understands Democrats’ “disappointment.” He said, “Their loss is the American people’s gain.”
Barrett’s confirmation would bring the most pronounced ideological change on the court in 30 years, from the liberal icon Ginsburg to the conservative appeals court judge fromindiana. Theshift is poised to launch a new era of court rulings on abortion, voting rights and other matters that are now open to new uncertainty.
The 48-year-old Barrett was careful during two days of public testimony not to tip her views on many issues, or take on the president who nominated her. Facing almost 20 hours of questions from senators, she declined to offer specifics beyond a vow to keep an open mind and take the cases as they come.
“It’s not the law of Amy,” the mother of seven told the senators at various times.
Barrett wasn’t present for Thursday’s hearing, the last of the week’s sessions.
Liberals pounced when top Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California hugged the chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as days of hearings closed, praising his handling of the process. They called for her immediate removal from leadership.
Barrett frustrated senators during two days of public hearings by declining to disclose views on those matters, and many others, despite a collection of public statements and writings against abortion and the court’s decisions on the health care law.
She brushed past Democrats’ pressing questions about ensuring the date of next month’s election or preventing voter intimidation, both set in federal law, and the peaceful transfer of presidential power. She also refused to express her view onwhether the president can pardon himself.
When it came to major issues that are likely to come before the court, including abortion and health care, Barrett repeatedly promised to keep an open mind and said neither Trump nor anyone else in the White House had tried to influence her views.
“Whatwas the pointof the hearing if we don’t know what she thinks about any issues?” Durbin asked at Thursday’s final session.