Republicans vow no delay on Barrett, but virus spreads in GOP

In his statement, Lee said he planned to quarantine for 10 days and expected to be able to provide support for Barrett in the committee.

“I have spoken with Leader McConnell and Chairman Graham, and assured them I will be back to work in time to join my Judiciary Committee colleagues in advancing the Supreme Court nomination,” Lee said.

Tillis similarly said he plans to self-isolate for 10 days, but said he has no symptoms and feels well.

“As we all know, COVID-19 is a very contagious and deadly virus, especially because many carriers are asymptomatic,” he said in a statement. “I encourage all North Carolinians to follow the recommendations of medical experts, including wearing a mask, washing hands, and practicing social distancing.”

Republican senators are eager to hold a confirmation vote on the floor before the Nov. 3 election, despite outrage from Democrats who say the winner of the upcoming election should fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is scheduled to begin hearings for Barrett on Oct. 12, and is planning to hold a committee vote on the nomination on Oct. 22. On that timeline, both Lee and Tillis would be present for hearings and a committee vote.

But the virus’ spread is already having some impact on Republicans’ efforts.

The Judiciary Committee postponed a mark-up scheduled for next week after Lee’s announcement, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called on McConnell and Graham to postpone Barrett’s hearings due to the possibility of an outbreak among senators.

“It is premature for Chairman Graham to commit to a hearing schedule when we do not know the full extent of potential exposure stemming from the president’s infection and before the White House puts in place a contact tracing plan to prevent further spread of the disease,” Schumer and Feinstein said in a joint statement.

Barrett was diagnosed with Covid-19 over the summer but has since recovered, according to a person familiar with the situation. She tested negative for the virus on Friday morning, a White House official said.

White House spokesperson Judd Deere said Barrett has not met with the president since she was unveiled as Trump’s nominee during a Rose Garden ceremony last Saturday, adding that Barrett has been following guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt earlier Friday that he has yet to choose a date for the final floor vote but that Democrats will be unable to delay Barrett’s confirmation. But fallout from the pandemic is largely out of his control.

“Our biggest enemy, obviously, is what we were talking about at the beginning of the interview — the coronavirus, keeping everybody healthy and well and in place to do our job,” he said.

McConnell added that portions of Barrett’s confirmation hearings are likely to be conducted remotely, telling Hewitt that he was not yet sure whether senators who met with Barrett and the White House officials had contracted the virus.

“It can sneak up on you as it did with the president and the first lady. So we’re keeping an eye on everyone,” McConnell said.

Later, at an event in Kentucky, McConnell indicated he saw no change in plans to the Senate schedule.

“So far, the disease has not kept us from operating as we would normally and there’s no reason to expect that to be the case in the foreseeable future,” he said.

Barrett met with 30 Republican senators from Tuesday to Thursday, and was in close proximity with top White House officials including chief of staff Mark Meadows, counsel Pat Cipollone and Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence and his wife, Karen, tested negative for the virus on Friday morning, the vice president’s spokesperson said.

Burgess Everett, Gabby Orr and Marianne LeVine contributed to this report.