Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris says Senate Republicans are putting the lives of their colleagues and Senate staffers at risk by holding confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump‘s Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
In a tweet on Sunday, Harris wrote, “By moving forward with Supreme Court confirmation hearings tomorrow—less than 2 weeks after members tested positive—Chairman Graham and Senate Republicans are endangering the lives of not just members and our staff, but the hardworking people who keep the Senate complex running.”
By moving forward with Supreme Court confirmation hearings tomorrow—less than 2 weeks after members tested positive—Chairman Graham and Senate Republicans are endangering the lives of not just members and our staff, but the hardworking people who keep the Senate complex running.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) October 11, 2020
In a separate statement to The Hill, Chris Harris, a Harris spokesperson, said, “Due to Judiciary Committee Republicans’ refusal to take commonsense steps to protect members, aides, Capitol complex workers, and members of the media, Senator Harris plans to participate in this week’s hearings remotely from her Senate office in the Hart building.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to hold hearings on Barrett starting Monday as Republicans aim to complete the confirmation process by the end of October and confirm Barrett before the Nov. 3 election.
After Trump tested positive for COVID-19, Republican Sens. Mike Lee (Utah) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) tested positive for the virus. Lee and Tillis are also members of the Judiciary Committee.
While Harris accused Republicans of putting lives at risk, Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has defended his COVID-19 protocols for the hearings.
Last week, Graham said, “We’re setting the hearing room up based on CDC guidelines. I just got a statement today from the Architect of the Capitol who consulted with the House physician saying that the room is set up in a compliant way.”
