Sen. Kamala Harris.
Source: Pool
Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris cited, like many of the Democratic senators before her, the academic writing in which Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett criticized the legal opinion of Justice John Roberts upholding the Affordable Care Act, as happening just months before President Trump initially nominated her for US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in 2017.
Appearing in the confirmation virtually, Harris asked, “My question is how many months after you published that article did President Trump nominate you to be a judge on the Court of Appeals?”
Barrett, without notes, said she did not remember that timing of her article—and Harris followed up that it was published in January 2017—and Trump nominated Barrett in May 2017.
“In other words, the Affordable Care Act and all its protections hinge on this seat and the outcome of this hearing. And I believe it’s very important the American people understand the issues at stake, and what’s at play,” Harris said.
The California senator then asked Barrett if she – before her current nomination—knew of Trump’s vows to choose a SCOTUS nominee that would strike down the ACA.
In a slightly testy back and forth, in which Barrett at once said Harris changed her question, the judge said, “I don’t recall seeing or hearing those statements.”