Klobuchar calls hearings for SCOTUS nominee Barrett a ‘sham’
On the first day of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, Sen. Amy Klobuchar calls the confirmation proceedings a “sham.”
Video Transcript
AMY KLOBUCHAR: As the rabbi said at Justice Ginsburg's memorial in the capital, her dissent-- her strong words when she would disagree with the Republican-appointed Justices-- her words were never cries of defeat. They were blueprints for the future. So to all Americans, this hearing-- whatever these guys try to do, whatever you hear from me-- it will not be a cry of defeat. It will instead be a blueprint for the future.
Yes, Judge, I think this hearing is a sham. I think it shows real messed up priorities from the Republican Party. But I am here to do my job, to tell the truth. To all Americans, we don't have some clever procedural way to stop this sham, to stop them from rushing through a nominee. But we have a secret weapon that they don't have. We have Americans who are watching, who work hard every day, believe in our country and the rule of law, whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or Independent.
They know what this president and the Republican Party are doing right now is very wrong. In fact, 74% of Americans think we should be working on a COVID relief package right now instead of this. Let me tell you a political secret. I doubt that it will be a brilliant cross-examination that's going to change this judge's trajectory this week. No. It is you.
It is you calling Republican senators and telling them enough is enough, telling them it is personal, telling them they have their priorities wrong. So do it. And it is you voting, even when they try to do everything to stop you. It is you making your own blueprint for the future instead of crying defeat. So do it. This isn't Donald Trump's country. It is yours. This shouldn't be Donald Trump's judge. It should be yours. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
