Sen. Mike Lee ripped his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for boycotting the vote on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
“It is a shame that our colleagues on the other side, having failed to lay a glove on Judge Barrett during the hearings, have chosen to walk out on this process. And in so doing, walk out on the American people,” he said.
Democrats claimed the Republicans violated the rules of the committee, which say at least two members of the minority party must be present for any vote on a nomination. Democrats are hoping to tarnish Barrett’s almost inevitable ascension to the Supreme Court, arguing Republicans reversed themselves since 2016 when they refused to consider then-President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination, citing the election nine months later. Barrett will likely be confirmed with just eight days remaining before Election Day.
Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president and a member of the Judiciary Committee, called the fast-track nomination a “sham” on Twitter following the boycott.
Lee countered that the protest by Democrats was more performative than sincere.
“I suppose we should be grateful that a walkout is all the Democrats will do to Judge Barrett today. This is an important point for those watching these proceedings who might be tempted to believe the pious pearl-clutching and performance art of the media and the minority party about this particular nomination,” mocked Lee.
Republicans advanced Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate on Thursday by a 12-0 vote of all Republicans. The final confirmation vote is scheduled to take place Monday.
