Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is calling on the Senate to delay Supreme Court hearings to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett, after Republican senators tested positive for COVID-19.
Klobuchar noted during her appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” three senators have tested positive for the coronavirus and two of them sit on the Judiciary Committee.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) have all tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We don’t know how many other Republican senators had it. There were a number of other ones that were at the Rose Garden. They have a lunch together where they don’t have masks. We don’t do that on the Democratic side, they do,” Klobuchar said.
She continued, “It’s very possible we’re going to have more senators, more staff. So I don’t know why you would ram through this Supreme Court hearing, put people in danger because it would be within that two week period while you have shut down the whole Senate. I just think it’s wrong. We are suggesting that they wait.”
Check out her remarks below:
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on why Senate needs to postpone Amy Coney Barrett vote: "We don't know how many other Republican senators had it … I don't know why you would ram through this Supreme Court hearing, put people in danger …" pic.twitter.com/1CcZRDkHW2
— The Recount (@therecount) October 4, 2020
Klobuchar is not the only senator to call for a delay of the nomination process.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released a statement on Friday imploring the Supreme Court not to rush the vote, as IJR previously reported.
“It’s critical that Chairman Graham put the health of senators, the nominee and staff first – and ensure a full and fair hearing that is not rushed, not truncated, and not virtual. Otherwise this already illegitimate process will become a dangerous one,” they wrote.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated they would move forward with the confirmation process, as IJR previously reported.
Barrett would replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Sept. 18 at the age of 87.