WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats argued Friday that it is “premature” to go ahead with the confirmation hearings of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court-nominated Amy Coney Barrett as two committee members who will conduct positive discussions for COVID-19.
Both senses, Mike Lee, Republican for Utah, and Thom Tillis, Republican for North Carolina.
Despite concerns, Republican Senate leaders say they must go ahead with Barrett’s confirmation hearings, which are scheduled to begin on October 12. Lee and Tillis are members of the 22-member Senate Judiciary Committee that will hold the hearings and in the end if their confirmation will be approved for a full senate vote.
Over the past 24 hours, a wave of officials tested positive for COVID-19 after positive tests from President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and White House adviser Hope Hicks at COVID-19. Members of Congress and even presidential candidate Joe Biden rushed. to get tested after their diagnoses, and detect that the disease had spread to 12 other people so far.
“It is inappropriate for President Graham to devote himself to a schedule of hearings when we do not know the full extent of the possible exposure resulting from the president’s infection and before the White House puts in position a tactile search plan to prevent him from spreading the disease,” said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Array and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, DN. Y.
The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, a Republican for South Carolina, said he had spoken to Lee the previous Friday and “wished him a recovery. “
On Friday night, on Twitter, Graham turned down calls from Democrats to postpone hearings and said things would continue as planned on October 12, noting that he had also been tested for COVID-19 and considered negative. He added that “any senator who wishes to participate will practically be allowed to do so. “
But a few hours after the tweets, some other member of his panel also tested positive.
“In recent months, I’ve been regularly checked for COVID-19, adding negative control last Saturday, but tonight my immediate antigen control was positive,” Tillis said on a Friday night. doctor’s recommendations and isolate myself at home for 10 days and tell people I’ve been in close contact with. Fortunately, I have no symptoms and I feel good. “
Like Tillis, Senator Lee said he was also planning to isolate himself for 10 days.
Lee said Friday morning that he had won a positive COVID-19 check after “experiencing symptoms consistent with long-standing allergies” on Thursday. He said he would isolate himself, but that he trusted Senate Republican leaders that he would “go back to paintings. “in time “to advance Barrett’s nomination to the Judiciary Committee and the entire Senate, which has the final say on confirming a candidate.
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More: The Senate can simply check Amy Coney Barrett before the Supreme Court a few days before Election Day, and hearings will begin on October 12.
Lee met Barrett on Tuesday and Tillis met her on Wednesday. Or they attended a judiciary hearing Wednesday with former FBI director James Comey, ingsing him handle the Russia investigation.
Both attended Wednesday’s Republican senators’ lunch.
Tillis also attended a face-to-face debate in North Carolina on Thursday night, where he faced former North Carolina state senator Cal Cunningham, a Democrat. Cunningham said on Twitter that he sought Tillis to make a “quick recovery” and that he too would be tested.
Since Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, Democrats have tried to delay the procedure for seating the seat on the Supreme Court, raising the proximity of the November 3 election. Democrats expect Joe Biden to defeat Trump on Election Day and Democrats will reconstitt the Senate, giving Democrats the variety and confirmation of judges.
But most senators were in the past in favor of advancing the nomination to fill the seat before the election. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Republican for Kentucky, explained last month that the Senate had enough time for Barrett to run before Election Day. .
With the exception of some delay tactics, the Republican majority in the Senate left Democrats without being able to prevent Barrett from being confirmed. Then came the news Friday that Trump and Lee had tested positive.
“It is imperative that President Graham prioritize the suitability of senators, candidate, and staff, and ensure a full and fair hearing that is not rushed, truncated, or virtual. Otherwise, this already illegitimate procedure will be dangerous,” said Schumer . and Feinstein wrote on Friday.
More: After Trump’s COVID diagnosis, a non-unusual list of all other people tested and their results
In addition: Which members of Congress conducted COVID-19 tests?
McConnell told reporters at a news convention Friday in Kentucky that the Senate would continue to advance Barrett’s nomination, adding that there were no plans to replace Senate works, adding that when he got here, widespread evidence.
“We’ve been operating in the same environment since May 1, and we’ve been able to do Senate business. There’s no explanation why we can’t keep doing it,” he said. “The disease hasn’t happened,” he prevented us from functioning as we usually would, and there’s no explanation as to why this will be the case for the foreseeable future. “
McConnell added that the news replaced the time of a full Senate vote to defend Barrett in the Supreme Court. “I plan to move on to the appointment as soon as she leaves the committee,” she said. Graham has already said the date may be as soon as October 26.
McConnell refused to say whether he had been tested COVID-19 in response to Trump’s diagnosis. The Kentucky Republican has said, “We follow the CDC guidelines. “
Unlike the White House, Congress does not have a standardized COVID-19 verification program, however, on Friday, the Capitol’s most sensible physician announced a new COVID-19 verification strategy that allows lawmakers to get a check.
Treating physician Brian Monahan’s workplace announced that his workplace provides evidence to lawmakers and staff that “show symptoms that suggest a coronavirus or that they worry about having been exposed to a known Covid 19 positive patient. “
The new guidelines, while en allow for more testing on Capitol Hill through those who request them, do not prescribe evidence for which the Capitol, a policy instituted by the White House.
The White House will offer speedy check machines to lawmakers before this year, but Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected the offer in May, saying the check machine could be used more elsewhere.
For months, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed their fear of the lack of Capitol Hill, fears that were renewed Friday after Trump’s diagnosis.
“I don’t understand why the president would continue to be unre evaluated,” said parliamentary minority leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican for California.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, disagreed with McCarthy, agreed with the desire to conduct the test.
She told reporters Friday that it would possibly not be a bad concept to order evidence, adding that there is the option of a “supercast” occasion with all members of Congress from districts across the country and collecting on Capitol Hill.
“I think it’s incredibly vital that we get tested,” he said.
Also: What does Capitol Hill think about COVID-19? Here’s what we know.
Contributor: Christal Hayes