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After Boycotting Vote, Senate Democrats Continue To Protest ‘Illegitimate’ Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation

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This article is more than 3 years old.
Updated Oct 22, 2020, 12:39pm EDT

Topline

With nowhere left to turn, Senate Democrats took to the steps of the Capitol on Thursday to—again—plead for an end to the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, who Republicans are on track to push through to the Supreme Court in record speed eight days before Election Day.

Key Facts

Democrats boycotted a Thursday morning vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee on whether to advance Barrett’s confirmation to the full Senate, filling their empty seats with large print-outs of people who benefit from the Affordable Care Act in an effort to highlight the policies they say will be at risk if Barrett is confirmed. 

However, Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), bypassing committee rules that require two minority members to be present, held the vote anyway, with the Republican majority agreeing to move the confirmation into its final stage. 

Ultimately powerless to change what appears to be an inevitability, Democrats stood in protest at the steps of the Capitol, taking turns to appeal to their Republican colleagues and the American public.

“The nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is the most illegitimate process I have ever witnessed in the Senate,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who warned of “dire consequences” for the future of the country. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), holding up a version of the collar late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would wear when dissenting on a court opinion, pointed to the late liberal icon’s parting wish for the Senate to wait until after the election to fill her seat. 

Democrats accused Republicans of hypocrisy over the GOP’s 2016 move to block Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the court on the basis that it was too close to the election. 

Chief Critic 

“They have engaged in a sham in violating their own precedent and not listening to the words of the great Justice Ginsburg,” said Klobuchar. 

Key Background 

These are the same arguments that Democrats made during last week’s questioning of Barrett, trying unsuccessfully to extract information from her about whether she would knock down core progressive cases like Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act, which President Trump has vowed to get done. Republicans argue that it is their constitutional right to pick a justice, shaking off accusations of hypocrisy as an unwarranted tantrum from the left. 

What To Watch For 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y.) said the full Senate will have a preliminary vote on Sunday, after which senators will have 30 hours to debate Barrett’s nomination. A final vote is slated to take place Monday. Senators signaled that they may have more plans for protests against the process. 

Crucial Quote 

“I am very committed to joining my colleagues in other protests of what is happening with this nominee,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono (R-Hawaii) said Thursday. 

Further Reading 

“Republicans Brush Off Democratic Boycott, Advance Amy Coney Barrett Nomination For Final Vote” (Forbes) 

“Mitch McConnell: ‘We’ll Be Voting To Confirm Justice-To-Be Barrett Next Monday’” (Forbes)

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