Sen. Mazie Hirono asked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett whether she has been the perpetrator of any sexual misconduct, a question Hirono said she asks all nominees.
“I ask each nominee these two questions, and I will ask them of you. Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?” the Hawaii Democrat asked during the hearing on Tuesday.
“No, Sen. Hirono,” Barrett responded.
“Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?” Hirono asked, eliciting another negative response from Barrett.
Hirono said she began asking nominees the questions about sexual assault and harassment in January 2018.
“Starting today, I’m asking nominees to our courts, under oath, whether or not they have a history of sexual assault or harassment. Like in other industries, our judges are in positions of power & #TimesUp,” she said in a tweet at the time.
Starting today, I’m asking nominees to our courts, under oath, whether or not they have a history of sexual assault or harassment. Like in other industries, our judges are in positions of power & #TimesUp. pic.twitter.com/Jk0NcTBi3h
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) January 10, 2018
Hirono also used her time on Tuesday to criticize Barrett over her use of the phrase “sexual preference” instead of “sexual orientation” earlier in the day when the matter of same-sex marriage was being discussed.
“Not once, but twice, you used the term ‘sexual preference’ to describe those in the LGBTQ community,” Hirono said. “And let me make clear, sexual preference is an offensive and outdated term. It is used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice. It is not. Sexual orientation is a key part of a person’s identity.”
Barrett responded to the senator’s remarks when she was given some time to speak while being questioned by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.
“I certainly didn’t mean, and would never mean, to use a term that would cause any offense in the LGBTQ community. So if I did, I greatly apologize for that,” Barrett said.
Tuesday’s hearing marks the second day of questions for Barrett, who was nominated by President Trump following the death of liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The nomination is controversial given its proximity to the upcoming presidential election, which is 21 days away.
