WASHINGTON, D.C., October 12, 2020 – This morning, Sen. Lindsey Graham will call to order the Senate Judiciary Committee for hearings on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. The senator is doing this despite the fact that it’s a federal holiday, that the Senate is not in session because the Capitol is not a safe place to be, that several senators on the committee have been sick, quarantining, or refuse to be tested, that the Senate continues to fail to take up any COVID-19 relief legislation, that Barrett has an extreme record not supported by the majority of Americans, and that the election is just three weeks away — with millions of ballots already cast.
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron released the following statement:
“This is clearly just a desperate grasp for power. In the middle of a pandemic, with multiple colleagues under quarantine, confirming Barrett is all Senate Republicans’ care about accomplishing.
The president selected Barret for her stated commitment to take away health care, destroy the protections for preexisting conditions that millions of people rely on, overturn Roe v. Wade, and set back racial justice and voting efforts.
It’s not safe for anyone — including their staffs — to be in the hearing room, but Republicans don’t care.
This is theatre, pure and simple, to reassure their base.
They are rushing through this sham process so they can keep President Trump in power in the event of a contested election.
Americans’ lives are on the line; confirming Amy Coney Barrett will only endanger them more.”