Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-Calif.) remarks at the confirmation hearing of Judge Amy Coney Barrett were already guaranteed to spark conversation in the news cycle because of her role as vice presidential candidate but Harris did not appear in-person at the hearing, instead she delivered her opening remarks through a video call.
In those remarks, Harris blasted the decision to hold the hearing as “reckless,” saying, “This hearing has brought together more than 50 people to sit inside of a closed-door room for hours while our nation is facing a deadly airborne virus.”
She continued, “This committee has ignored common-sense requests to keep people safe, including not requiring testing for all members, despite a coronavirus outbreak among senator of this very committee.”
Harris noted that Senate Republicans postponed action on the Senate floor this week but went ahead with the confirmation hearing. The California lawmaker said that the hearing should have been postponed, saying, “The decision to hold this hearing now is reckless and places facilities workers, janitorial staff and congressional aides and Capitol Police at risk.”
Like make of the Democrats, Harris said that the Senate should instead be focused on providing relief to Americans during the pandemic.
Appearing virtually, Kamala Harris says "reckless" Barrett hearing “should have been postponed."
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 12, 2020
“This hearing has brought together more than 50 people to sit inside of a closed-door room for hours while our nation is facing a deadly airborne virus.” https://t.co/k0Ef9L33bW pic.twitter.com/rxWmTsIOyL
Among those on the Senate Judiciary Committee is Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) who recently tested positive for the coronavirus. Lee delivered his opening remarks without a mask; he said that his physician cleared him to appear at the hearing.
Senate Democrats are unlikely to be able to do anything to block the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett — the Republicans have said that they have the votes needed to confirm Barrett to the bench.
President Trump has said that he is hoping for a quick confirmation of his justice to the Supreme Court because he expects that the election results will end up before the nations’ top court.
