Well, this is awkward. Senator Dianne Feinstein was caught making disparaging comments about Judge Amy Coney Barrett during a break in the Senate confirmation hearings on Thursday.
In the clip, Feinstein can be heard talking about Barret’s Catholic faith and pro-life views.
“She’s been pro-life for a long time,” she can be heard saying. “So I suspect with her, it is deeply personal and comes with her religion.”
📽️ Sen. Feinstein hot mic talking about Judge Amy Coney Barrett: “She’s been pro-life for a long time. So I suspect with her, it is deeply personal and comes with her religion.” pic.twitter.com/5dUBhHLQsn
— Tré Goins-Phillips (@tregp) October 15, 2020
The comments may easily be interpreted as disparaging given that Feinstein has previously made similar comments, suggesting that she would be unable to separate her faith from her unbiased rulings as a Supreme Court Justice.
During her time questioning Judge Barrett, Feinstein attempted to get her to say that she would overturn Roe v. Wade. Barrett, however, repeatedly told her that she would make decisions on the cases put before her without any agenda. Her only goal, she said, is to “stick to the rule of law and decide cases as they come.”
In 2017, Feinstein attacked Barrett over her faith, suggesting that it was a “concern.”
“The dogma lives loudly within you, and that’s of concern,” she said three years ago.
On Thursday it was also announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote next week to approve Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination. The vote is expected to take place on October 22, and if the Senate votes to appoint her, she will become the third Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Donald Trump.
During this week’s hearings, senators have been given the opportunity to grill Judge Barrett on her qualifications and abilities. It has resulted in some hostile questioning from Democrats, including vice-presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris.
