The Judiciary Committee of the Republican-dominated US House of Senate announced on Monday that it would open a confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination on October 12. The announcement made it clear that a coronavirus outbreak across the country would not interfere with the process.
Meanwhile, the committee’s chairman, the Republican Senator Lindsay Graham said that the hearing to replace the late Justice Ruth Ginsburg would start at 9 PM. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said while opening the house on Monday that the hearing would be in a hybrid format, with some house members connecting remotely due to the pandemic outbreak.
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He further added, “We are going ahead with the full, thorough, and timely confirmation process that Judge Barrett and the court deserve.” Moreover, in recent days, two senior committee members – Mike Lee and Thom Tillis – tested positive for the coronavirus.
As per local media reports, both the Republican senators were at the White House on September 26, when Trump introduced his nominee to replace Ginsburg, who died last month. Meanwhile, many health experts are scrutinizing the event like the super spreader of the virus.
Furthermore, many other participants at the event – most of them did not wear facemasks – have also tested positive for the respiratory disease. On Friday, after President Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19, he was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Senator Mitch McConnel further added that the Senate would adjourn for two days. Even though Democrats politicians opposed the move as they want to wait for the result of the presidential election before the nomination of the Supreme Court Justice, Republicans have been working hard to replace Ginsburg before the polls.
