Senate Democrats on Wednesday forced the Senate to adjourn shortly after 1 p.m. to protest the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, although the move did not disrupt the ongoing confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Under Senate rules, unanimous consent is required for committees to hold hearings after 2 p.m. But Democrats withheld that consent, and without it, Republicans had to choose between either keeping the Senate in session and shutting down Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing, or adjourning the Senate so the hearing could continue.
Republicans chose the latter, and the Senate was adjourned shortly after 1 p.m., after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor that Democrats were making the move to protest Kavanaugh.
“As a result, we will not consent to business as usual on the Senate floor,” he said. “This means the Senate will adjourn for the day …”
Republicans were quick to downplay the move and said it would have no effect on the committee hearing.
“Sen. Schumer’s objection today had absolutely no impact on the committee,” said Don Stewart, a spokesman for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “The Judiciary Committee will continue to meet, and the eight judges will still be confirmed this week.”
Democrats have argued that Republicans are trying to jam Kavanaugh through the Senate without providing enough information about the nominee. But the GOP has said senators have more information about Kavanaugh than they’ve had from any past nominee.
McConnell indicated the Democrats’ move was an minor inconvenience, and said the Senate would reconvene as normal on Thursday.
[Opinion: Kick the audience out of the Brett Kavanaugh hearing already]
