WASHINGTON, D.C., October 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Mere days before the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett are set to begin, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, refused to take a coronavirus test. Graham argued that he was going to run “the hearing in a medically compliant way, but I’m not going to live my life differently than you who have to live yours.”
Before a debate yesterday, Graham’s opponent for a Senate seat, Jaime Harrison, asked him to take a COVID-19 test in order for the debate to go forward. Since he refused, both candidates were being questioned for 30 minutes each.
Graham asked the viewers during his section of the debate, “How many of you are going to go to work tomorrow? How many of you are going to be around people tomorrow? If you’re a waitress and you go to the restaurant to earn your living, are you going to require of your employer that everybody be tested that comes into the restaurant? Are you going to require that all your co-workers be tested, whether they need to or not?”
“You can’t make that requirement,” the senator explained. “If you did, it would break our economy. So we’re going to run the hearing in a medically compliant way, but I’m not going to live my life differently than you who have to live yours.”
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham is responsible for conducting the confirmation hearings starting Monday.
President Donald Trump had nominated Judge Barrett, a Catholic mother of seven, to the Supreme Court two weeks ago. According to standard procedure, the Senate Judiciary Committee can ask the nominee any questions during the hearings, before the full Senate can vote to confirm.
Several positive coronavirus tests among senators and members of the administration in recent weeks have led Democrats to ask for delaying the hearings in an attempt to block replacing the late pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with the pro-life Barrett.
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah announced last Friday that he started experiencing “symptoms consisted with longtime allergies” on Thursday morning. “Out of an abundance of caution, I sought medical advice and was tested for COVID-19. Unlike the test I took just a few days ago while visiting the White House, yesterday’s test came back positive.”
Lee said he was quarantining “for the next 10 days” until October 12.
In his brief statement, he made sure to emphasize that he had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Graham “and assured them I will be back to work in time to join my Judiciary Committee colleagues in advancing the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett in the Committee and then to the full Senate.”
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said just a few hours after Lee that he tested positive for COVID-19, as well. Like Lee, Tillis is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also will be “self-isolating at home for 10 days,” but he didn’t comment on any implications his diagnosis might have on confirming Barrett as a Supreme Court justice.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Judiciary ranking member Dianne Feinstein released a statement after the two members of the committee were diagnosed with COVID-19.
“It is premature for Chairman Graham to commit to a hearing schedule when we do not know the full extent of potential exposure stemming from the president’s infection and before the White House puts in place a contact tracing plan to prevent further spread of the disease,” they wrote. “The unfortunate news about the infection of our colleague Senator Mike Lee makes even more clear that health and safety must guide the schedule for all Senate activities, including hearings.”
The statement was released after both President Donald Trump and Lee tested positive, but before Tillis had his test results.
“In addition,” the Democrats’ statement continued, “there is bipartisan agreement that a virtual confirmation hearing for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench is not an acceptable substitute. All circuit court nominees have appeared in person during the pandemic, and there is far more at stake for the American people with this Supreme Court nomination, including the Affordable Care Act being struck down and more than 7 million COVID survivors being denied health coverage.”
The first of four scheduled days of hearings will begin at 9 a.m. ET on Monday.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images
PETITION UPDATE (10/26//2020)
In a resounding victory for supporters of life, family and freedom, the U.S. Senate has just confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States!
Justice Barrett was sworn-in by Justice Clarence Thomas and will swiftly fill the vacant seat and immediately begin participating in Supreme Court hearings.
The petitions signed by many of you - there are now over 40,000 signatures - supporting Judge Amy Coney Barrett were sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as to the Officers of the USCCB.
Thank you for signing these petitions. As you can see, your signature really does make a difference!
We also know that many of you also made calls to your U.S. senators to encourage them to vote for Judge Barrett. Thank you!
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PETITION UPDATE (10/22/2020)
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee just voted to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate, leaving only one hurdle to go next week.
Every Republican on the committee voted for Barrett, President Donald Trump’s selection to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while every committee Democrat boycotted the vote, CNBC reports.
Please READ the latest LifeSite article about the Senate Committee's vote here.
As you read above, Judge Barrett has one more hurdle next Monday. Of course, it's the BIGGEST hurdle.
So, if you haven't already, could we ask you to please call your U.S. senators to politely voice your support for Judge Barrett?
After SIGNING this petition, please scroll down the page, where you will find the list of all U.S. senators' contact details.
Let's keep working and praying so that we can see a pro-life judge sit on the Supreme Court.
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PETITION UPDATE (10/15/20)
The fourth day of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Senate confirmation hearing for the open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court is going on now.
Please CLICK HERE to go to the livestream of the hearings.
Please watch and read EXCLUSIVE LifeSite videos and articles about Judge Amy Coney Barrett's hearings:
YouTube Videos:
'We are people of faith, the true body of Christ': Christians pray for SCOTUS confirmation hearings'
'"That's your job": Judge Barrett responds to relevance of Obamacare to SCOTUS confirmation'
Articles:
'Hawley, Barrett dismantle religious tests for office at Supreme Court hearing'
'Ted Cruz at Barrett hearing warns Democrats want to ‘erase’ religious liberty'
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Conservatives and Christians asked President Trump to deliver a proven constitutional originalist with a solid pro-life background, and he did.
Now, let's not be outdone by Leftist organizations which will be mobilizing their forces to write, call and visit their senators' constituency offices.
Please SIGN this urgent petition - to Senate Leadership - asking them to quickly confirm Barrett as the next Supreme Court justice.
Then, please take a couple of minutes to CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS using their numbers below, and politely urge them to confirm Barrett.
When Amy Coney Barrett's senate confirmation hearing begins on Monday, October 12th, the mother of seven and devout Catholic is expected to face fierce opposition.
Of course, the anticipated attacks have nothing to do with Barrett's legal credentials, which are uniformly top-notch.
Instead, they have to do with her faith in Jesus and with her belief that life begins at conception.
This is nothing short of anti-Christian bigotry which cannot be tolerated.
The fact is, Amy Coney Barrett is the best candidate for the job, and she urgently needs our support.
By signing the petition, we can unite to powerfully speak with one voice. But, by calling your senators, you can ensure that they know their local constituents are concerned and interested enough to telephone their offices.
This is our time to get active! We must voice our support for Amy Coney Barrett at this crucial moment in our nation's history.
Please SIGN this petition, and then please use the contact details below to CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS right-away! Thank you!
U.S. SENATORS' CONTACT DETAILS:
SENATORS AND PHONE NUMBERS - https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact
ALABAMA SENATORS
Doug Jones – (202) 224-4124
Richard C. Shelby – (202) 224-5744
ALASKA SENATORS
Lisa Murkowski – (202) 224-6665
Dan Sullivan – (202) 224-3004
ARIZONA SENATORS
Martha McSally – (202) 224-2235
Kyrsten Sinema – (202) 224-4521
ARKANSAS SENATORS
John Boozman – (202) 224-4843
Tom Cotton – (202) 224-2353
CALIFORNIA SENATORS
Dianne Feinstein – (202) 224-3841
Kamala D. Harris – (202) 224-3553
COLORADO SENATORS
Michael F. Bennett – (202) 224-5852
Cory Gardner – (202) 224-5941
CONNECTICUT SENATORS
Richard Blumenthal – (202) 224-2823
Christopher Murphy – (202) 224-4041
DELAWARE SENATORS
Thomas R. Carper – (202) 224-2441
Christopher A. Coons – (202) 224-5042
FLORIDA SENATORS
Marco Rubio – (202) 224-3041
Rick Scott – (202) 224-5274
GEORGIA SENATORS
Kelly Loeffler – (202) 224-3643
David Perdue – (202) 224-3521
HAWAII SENATORS
Mazie K. Hirono – (202) 224-6361
Brian Schatz – (202) 224-3934
IDAHO SENATORS
Mike Crapo – (202) 224-6142
James E. Risch – (202) 224-2752
ILLINOIS SENATORS
Dick Durbin – (202) 224-2152
Tammy Duckworth – (202) 224-2854
INDIANA SENATORS
Mike Braun – (202) 224-4814
Todd Young – (202) 224-5623
IOWA SENATORS
Joni Ernst – (202) 224-3254
Chuck Grassley – (202) 224-3774
KANSAS SENATORS
Jerry Moran – (202) 224-6521
Pat Roberts – (202) 224-4744
KENTUCKY SENATORS
Mitch McConnell – (202) 224-2541
Rand Paul – (202) 224-4343
LOUISIANA SENATORS
Bill Cassidy – (202) 224-5824
John Kennedy – (202) 224-4623
MAINE SENATORS
Susan M. Collins – (202) 224-2523
Angus S. King – (202) 224-5344
MARYLAND SENATORS
Benjamin L. Cardin – (202) 224-4524
Chris Van Hollen – (202) 224-4654
MASSACHUSETS SENATORS
Edward J. Markey – (202) 224-2742
Elizabeth Warren – (202) 224-4543
MICHIGAN
Gary C. Peters – (202) 224-6221
Debbie Stabenow – (202) 224-4822
MINNESOTA
Amy Klobuchar – (202) 224-3244
Tina Smith – (202) 224-5641
MISSISSIPPI
Cindy Hyde-Smith – (202) 224-5054
Roger F. Wicker – (202) 224-6253
MISSOURI
Roy Blunt – (202) 224-5721
Josh Hawley – (202) 224-6154
MONTANA
Steve Daines – (202) 224-2651
Jon Tester – (202) 224-2644
NEBRASKA
Deb Fischer – (202) 224-6551
Ben Sasse – (202) 224-4224
NEVADA
Catherine Cortez Masto – (202) 224-3542
Jacky Rosen – (202) 224-6244
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Margaret Wood Hassan – (202) 224-3324
Jeanne Shaheen – (202) 224-2841
NEW JERSEY
Cory A. Booker – (202) 224-3224
Robert Menendez – (202) 224-4744
NEW MEXICO
Martin Heinrich – (202) 224-5521
Tom Udall – (202) 224-6621
NEW YORK
Kirsten E. Gillibrand – (202) 224-4451
Charles E. Schumer – (202) 224-6542
NORTH CAROLINA
Richard Burr – (202) 224-3154
Thom Tillis – (202) 224-6342
NORTH DAKOTA
Kevin Cramer – (202) 224-2043
John Hoeven – (202) 224-2551
OHIO
Sherrod Brown – (202) 224-2315
Rob Portman – (202) 224-3353
OKLAHOMA
James M. Inhofe – (202) 224-4721
James Lankford – (202) 224-5754
OREGON
Jeff Merkley – (202) 224-3753
Ron Wyden – (202) 224-5244
PENNSYLVANIA
Robert P. Casey, Jr. – (202) 224-6324
Patrick J. Toomey, Jr. – (202) 224-4254
RHODE ISLAND
Jack Reed – (202) 224-4642
Sheldon Whitehouse – (202) 224-2921
SOUTH CAROLINA
Lindsey Graham – (202) 224-5972
Tim Scott – (202) 224-6121
SOUTH DAKOTA
Mike Rounds – (202) 224-5842
John Thune – (202) 224-2321
TENNESSEE
Lamar Alexander – (202) 224-4944
Marsha Blackburn – (202) 224-3344
TEXAS
John Cornyn – (202) 224-2934
Ted Cruz – (202) 224-5922
UTAH
Mike Lee – (202) 224-5444
Mitt Romney – (202) 224-5251
VERMONT
Patrick J. Leahy – (202) 224-4242
Bernard Sanders – (202) 224-5141
VIRGINIA
Tim Kaine – (202) 224-4024
Mark R. Warner – (202) 224-2023
WASHINGTON
Maria Cantwell – (202) 224-3441
Patty Murray – (202) 224-2621
WEST VIRGINIA
Shelley Moore Capito – (202) 224-6472
Joe Manchin III – (202) 224-3954
WISCONSIN
Tammy Baldwin – (202) 224-5653
Ron Johnson – (202) 224-5323
WYOMING
John Barrasso – (202) 224-6441
Michael B. Enzi – (202) 224-3424