In a speech that lasted over 40-minutes, Blumenthal—who has joined other Democrats in openly opposing Barrett’s nomination before the Nov. 3 election—vocalized concerns over topics including abortion and health care.
He also touched on Democrats’ calls for Barrett to recuse herself from any cases involving the outcome of the presidential election or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if confirmed by the Senate, due to concerns over conflicts of interest.
Under federal law, however, an individual justice has the right to decide whether a conflict of interest or genuine question of bias exists. There is no way to force Barrett to recuse herself from any cases.
Barrett was nominated last month by President Donald Trump after Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. In a 52-48 vote, largely along party lines, Barrett was sworn in Monday night as the 115th associate justice on the Supreme Court and the fifth woman to serve on the bench.
Hours earlier, Blumenthal suggested that if Republicans succeed in seating Barrett on the highest court in the United States, Senate Democrats could potentially retaliate.
“The fact is that our Republican colleagues are shattering the norms and breaking the rules and breaking their word, and there will be consequences,” Blumenthal warned in his remarks. “There inevitably are consequences when one person breaks his or her word to another.”
Blumenthal warned that the balance of the Supreme could “radically” shift for “decades” upon her confirmation, and expressed concern over how Barrett, who has a conservative-leaning voting record, would rule on a number of issues.
“Nothing less than everything is at stake,” he said in his remarks. “A shift in the balance of the court that will last for decades if we do not correct it—and believe me, there are appropriate measures that should be considered.”
“I fight for the Supreme Court’s legitimacy. I revere the Supreme Court, having argued before it, having clerked on it. Its legitimacy depends on faith and trust. We must act to restore the credibility and legitimacy of the court, which has been so gravely imperiled,” he added.
The Epoch Times contacted Blumenthal’s office for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
Democrats have long argued that whoever wins the election should be given the opportunity to select the nominee to replace the late Associate Justice Ginsburg who died on Sept. 18.
“This rushed, sham process is a disservice to our committee,” Blumenthal said earlier this month. “She has been rushed in way that is historically unprecedented.”
“The purpose of doing it is simply to have a justice on the Supreme Court, as the president has said, to decide the election and to strike down the Affordable Care Act,” he added.
She said that she would recuse herself from cases in which she had participated in as a judge on the 7th Circuit Court due to potential bias.
Barrett was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, who administered the constitutional oath at a White House ceremony hosted by Trump.
“This is a momentous day for America, for the United States Constitution, and for the fair and impartial rule of law,” Trump said at the South Lawn ceremony, which was held with social distancing measures. “Over the past few weeks, the entire world has seen Justice Barrett’s deep knowledge, tremendous poise, and towering intellect.”
