On the last day of Barrett’s hearing, as with Kavanaugh’s hearing, the committee heard witnesses. Both Kavanaugh and Barrett received a “well qualified” rating from representatives from the American Bar Association. Republicans lined up witnesses who spoke personally to the nominee’s character and qualifications. Democrats lined up witnesses who said Barrett’s confirmation threatened certain causes, such as the Affordable Care Act or abortion.
Some pro-Barrett witnesses argued against the notion that her conservative worldview or Roman Catholic faith would make her rule according to one political party’s preferences. University of Virginia law professor Saikrishna Prakash in his statement said that both political parties should expect Barrett’s rulings to disappoint them at times: “She will reach results that some of us will criticize, maybe even disdain. We have seen this before, and we will see it again.”
The vacancy that Kavanaugh ultimately filled fell on a midterm election year, but no October surprise overtook the headlines about the hearing itself. But as Barrett’s hearing neared its end, a potential October surprise directed at Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden surfaced, then was quickly stifled.
On Oct. 14, the New York Post published a story claiming Biden’s son Hunter attempted to involve his father in his business dealings with Chinese and Ukrainian corporations. The Biden campaign denied any meeting occured between then–Vice President Joe Biden and a Ukrainian gas company executive.
The Post based the story on emails from an abandoned hard drive obtained by President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
Twitter and Facebook initially halted shares of the story on their platforms. Twitter said the report violated its “hacked materials policy,” and Facebook cast doubt on the article’s veracity. Their actions inflamed Republican lawmakers, who accused the social media giants of censorship. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to allow Graham to subpoena Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
This year it’s the Hunter Biden story accounting for drama, not Barrett’s nomination. “I just want to say to my Democratic colleagues, I have lost sleep over this hearing. I did not know how it would go,” Graham said in his closing remarks at Barrett’s hearing. “Thank you on behalf of the country for allowing us to get through this hearing in a fashion that I think it is befitting of the Senate.”
Comments
Xion
Posted: Thu, 10/22/2020 01:23 pmIt is true that the Democrats didn't go completely insane and try to ruin ACB's life. So there's that. But they did boycott her vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
It is difficult to understand why a court or justices would be political. No ruling should be political. And yet here we are.
JA
Posted: Thu, 10/22/2020 04:42 pmI have massive respect and admiration for Amy Coney Barrett. She is a fantastic example of a public servant who is poised, responsible, and NOT in it for herself.
I don't think it was an accident that she was at the center of the most gracious proceeding that has come out of Washington D.C. in a long time.
JerryM
Posted: Thu, 10/22/2020 06:53 pmCONTRAST
Diane Feinstein's statement: "This has been one of the best sets of hearings that I’ve participated in, and I want to thank you for your fairness..."
WITH
Kamala Harris's tweet: "This is an illegitimate process—and the American people know it. We will not stand for it."
BF
Posted: Fri, 10/23/2020 01:23 amDianne Feinstein? Well, good for her. I'm mildly encouraged.
OldMike
Posted: Fri, 10/23/2020 06:44 amI am hoping that Senator Feinstein's gesture signals a sweeping change in the way we do politics. At the very least, it shows that even people we may vehemently disagree with are not necessarily monsters. But I'm hoping for a great deal more--I'm hoping there are Democratic votes for Judge Barrett's confirmation and that the process is greeted by vast numbers of American People saying, "Whew! It's about time! This is how we want things done ALL the time." And that the usual loud angry haters who condemn the confirmation, and the Dem "traitors" who vote for it, are told by a great many of us, "Stuff it!" And that the radicals stand in open mouth silence, astounded that they have been cancelled.
Guess I can dream.
Big Jim
Posted: Sat, 10/24/2020 02:19 amGee, I guess I'm an uncurable cynic but I see all this as political calculus. The Dems got burned by the Kavanaugh hearings, losing several Senate seats as a result of their out-of-line behavior. Ms. Barrett makes for a much more sympathetic figure than Brett Kavanaugh. So why create a ruckus and risk compromising Senate seats, especially when polling data shows the Dems poised to take back the Senate majority? Simply play nice, win the majority on Nov. 3 ... then come down like a hammer on the (new) Republican minority. We'll see how nice the Dems play when they're in the advantage.
Cyborg3
Posted: Wed, 10/28/2020 12:48 amBig Jim said it accurately!