Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) doubled down on his calls for the Senate Judiciary Committee to halt Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s “reckless” Supreme Court confirmation hearing, contending that it is simply “too dangerous” to proceed.
“COVID is having a domino effect in the Capitol, and we need transparency and tracing. 3 GOP Senators have already tested positive, and we do not yet know the full extent of exposure,” Schumer said on Sunday.
“If it’s too dangerous to have the Senate in session, it’s too dangerous for committee hearings,” he added:
COVID is having a domino effect in the Capitol, and we need transparency and tracing.
3 GOP Senators have already tested positive, and we do not yet know the full extent of exposure.
If it’s too dangerous to have the Senate in session, it's too dangerous for committee hearings.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 4, 2020
The minority leader followed up on Monday, calling on the GOP to “halt this increasingly reckless Supreme Court process” and demanding “thorough COVID testing” for the Senate “now.”
“Americans see the similarity between GOP willingness to put Senators and staff at risk in pursuit of power and their willingness to strip health care from millions,” he added, repeating the false claim that a Justice Barrett would threaten health care for millions of Americans:
The GOP must halt this increasingly reckless Supreme Court process, and the Senate needs thorough COVID testing now
Americans see the similarity between GOP willingness to put Senators and staff at risk in pursuit of power and their willingness to strip health care from millions
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 5, 2020
Two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have since tested positive for the virus. Both have struck optimistic tones, with Lee going as far as stating that he looks forward to being back in time to join his colleagues in the confirmation process for Barrett, which is slated to begin October 12:
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 2, 2020
Schumer’s line of attack has remained consistent over the last few days. Following President Trump’s positive coronavirus diagnosis, the New York lawmaker scolded the administration for having what he described as a “cavalier attitude” toward the virus and ignoring “science.” Later that day, he declared that it was “irresponsible and dangerous to move forward with a hearing” and added that there is “absolutely no good reason to do so”:
We now have two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who have tested positive for COVID, and there may be more. I wish my colleagues well.
It is irresponsible and dangerous to move forward with a hearing, and there is absolutely no good reason to do so.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 3, 2020
Neither Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) nor Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have shown signs of delaying the process despite the emergence of coronavirus cases among lawmakers and members of the Trump administration. Most recently, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced that she, too, has tested positive for the virus.
“Full steam ahead with the fair, thorough, timely process that the nominee, the Court, & the country deserve,” McConnell said on Friday:
Just finished a great phone call with @POTUS. He’s in good spirits and we talked business — especially how impressed Senators are with the qualifications of Judge Barrett. Full steam ahead with the fair, thorough, timely process that the nominee, the Court, & the country deserve.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) October 2, 2020
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