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, a Republican for Utah, and Thom Tillis, North Carolina, tested COVID-19, days after the Barrett assembly in person, tingrating considerations among Democrats about hearing safety.
Despite the concerns, Senate Republican leaders say they will go ahead with confirmation hearings for Barrett, which are scheduled to begin Oct. 12, if his 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 Senator Dianne Feinstein, 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 rejected 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. you 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 was regularly checked for COVID-19, adding negative controls last Saturday, however, tonight my immediate antigen control was positive,” Tillis said on a Friday night. recommendations and isolate myself at home for 10 days and tell the 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 Republican Senate leaders that he would return “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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Lee met Barrett on Tuesday and Tillis met her on Wednesday. Both attended a Judicial Committee hearing Wednesday with former FBI Director James Comey, ingsing him to administer 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 the death of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, Democrats have tried to delay the confirmation procedure for the Supreme Court seat, raising the proximity of the November 3 elections. Democrats hope Joe Biden will defeat Trump on Election Day and that Democrats will reconstitute the Senate, giving Democrats variety and confirmation from justices.
But most senators in the past were in favor of advancing the nomination to fill the seat before the elections. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, explained last month that the Senate had enough time for Barrett to run before Election Day. .
With the exception of some overdue tactics, the majority of the Republican Party in the Senate left Democrats without being able to prevent Barrett from being confirmed. Then came Friday’s news that Trump and Lee had tested positive.
“It is imperative that President Graham prioritizes the suitability of senators, candidates and staff, and ensures a full and fair hearing that is not rushed, truncated, or virtual. Otherwise, this already illegitimate procedure will be dangerous,” Schumer said. 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 the Senate works, adding that when he gets here, widespread testing.
“We have been operating in the same environment since May 1 and have been able to do Senate business. There’s no explanation why we can’t keep doing it,” he said. “The disease has not been prevented, from working as we normally would, and there is no explanation as to why this will be so 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 because of 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 “exhibit symptoms suggesting 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 offered quick check machines to lawmakers earlier this year, but Pelosi and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell turned down the offer in May, saying the checkbooking apparatus could be more widely used 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, disagrees with McCarthy, agreed with the desire to prove.
She told reporters Friday that it would possibly not be a bad concept to order evidence, adding that there is the option of a “super spreader” occasion with all members of Congress coming 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