Despite dramatics from disgruntled Democrats who boycotted Thursday’s meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, majority Republicans led by Chairman Lindsey Graham unanimously sent the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the full Senate for confirmation.
The final vote is slated for next Monday, Oct. 26, the 139th anniversary of the famed Gunfight at the OK Corral.
Judge Barrett’s confirmation would shift the high court majority, raising the possibility for the court to accept Second Amendment cases for the first time in a decade. Earlier this year, the court declined to hear any of 10 strong cases challenging gun laws in various states on Second Amendment grounds. There are still other gun rights cases waiting in the wings.
Democrats had previously announced they would boycott the committee hearing, arguing that Judge Barrett’s confirmation could endanger the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare.” During the Barrett hearings last week, Judiciary Committee Democrats also expressed concerns about abortion rights and the potential Roe v. Wade might be overturned.
But always in the background was the gun control question. Judge Barrett was asked whether she owned a gun, which she confirmed. But there is no indication that because the Barrett family owns a firearm it will somehow steer any decision she might make regarding Second Amendment rights.
The committee vote was 12-0 with Chairman Graham essentially telling spoil sport Democrats they had a chance and decided to stubbornly stay away.
Anti-gun Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer furiously complained that voting on a Supreme Court nominee this close to a national election had never happened before. He called Barrett’s nomination “the most illegitimate process” he ever witnessed in the Senate.
The vote came as another controversy was erupting, this one having to do with the Nov. 3 election. Federal authorities on Wednesday revealed attempts by Iran and Russia to allegedly interfere with the presidential elections. While some in the media have been trying to blame this on Donald Trump supporters, here’s what Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe actually said, according to Fox News:
“This data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion, sow chaos, and undermine your confidence in American democracy. To that end, we have already seen Iran sending spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest, and damage President Trump. You may have seen some reporting on this in the last 24 hours or you may have even been one of the recipients of those emails.”
This attempt was not designed to help the president but hurt him, Ratcliffe explained.
Tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in early voting. This could be one of the most involved elections in U.S. history.
