Sen. Ted Cruz accused Democrats of abandoning the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Judge Amy Coney Barrett after failing to land any significant damage to her chances after more than a day of questioning.
“They don’t have any substantive criticism,” said Cruz, a Texas Republican. “This side of the aisle does not have arguments against Judge Barrett that have any chance of prevailing.”
On Wednesday, Barrett answered questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a second day, responding to Democrats who want to know how she would rule on matters related to healthcare, gun ownership rights, voting access, abortion, and gay and transgender issues.
By late morning, Cruz noted, two Democrats remained in the room to hear from Barrett.
“If you look at the dais, there is chair after chair that is empty,” Cruz said. “The Democratic senators are no longer even attending, though I’m assuming they’ll show up for their time. But it is indicative of what they’re tacitly admitting, which is they don’t have substantive criticism.”
Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, interrupted Cruz and said Democrats were missing from the room due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Members are in their offices following this on television,” Durbin said. “To suggest their absence here means they are not following or participating is incorrect.”
Cruz pointed out that most of the lawmakers were present on Tuesday, when the first round of questioning took place.
“I would note that the senator from Illinois omitted the fact that all but two of the Democrats were physically here yesterday after their questioning,” Cruz said. “They made the decision not to be here. You are welcome to make that decision, but it is indicative, when it comes to the kind of questioning, this side of the aisle does not have the arguments against Judge Barrett that have any chance of prevailing.”
Barrett has impressed lawmakers on both sides of the aisle with her knowledge of a vast array of cases and has stuck to avoiding any details of how she might rule on cases that could come before the Supreme Court.
Democrats on Tuesday and Wednesday pressured Barrett on voting rights issues, healthcare, and other matters, citing the Constitution but not her political philosophy.
