Top Democrat: We Can 'Slow' Barrett's Confirmation Process But 'Can't Stop' It

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday that Democrats will be able to slow Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barretts confirmation process but cant stop it.

During an appearance on ABCs This Week, Durbin confirmed an ABC News report that Democrats are without a silver bullet for stopping Barretts confirmation before the Nov. 3 election.

Thats true, Durbin told host George Stephanopoulos.

President Donald Trump formally nominated Barrett on Saturday to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, moving one step closer to establishing a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

NEW: Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin tells @GStephanopoulos that Senate Democrats can slow the process of confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most, but we cant stop the outcome. https://t.co/zTNMzk2uyg pic.twitter.com/mA8TYkY9Df

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NEW: Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin tells @GStephanopoulos that Senate Democrats can slow the process of confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most, but we cant stop the outcome. https://t.co/zTNMzk2uyg pic.twitter.com/mA8TYkY9Df
This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 27, 2020

Durbin said the timing and even the outcome of the confirmation process could change if at least four GOP senators speak out against holding it ahead of Election Day. So far, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine are the only Republicans who have done so.

Democratic strategists including Adam Jentleson , who served as deputy chief of staff for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have outlined ways they believe Democrats could derail Barretts confirmation .

But Durbin said Sunday that such plans could only temporarily stall the process.

We can slow it down perhaps a matter of hours maybe days at the most but we cant stop the outcome, Durbin said.

He added that Democrats should address Barretts nomination respectfully but also understand the context: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) claimed to have no time to attend to negotiations on coronavirus relief legislation, but was willing to drop everything to push Barretts confirmation through the Senate ahead of Election Day.

Now were going hellbent on getting this done before the election, Durbin said of McConnells efforts. And the second thing, of course, he reversed the position he took four years ago saying we should wait for the next president to fill the vacancy.

Democrats have accused Republicans of being hypocrites for flip-flopping on the issue of confirming a Supreme Court justice during a presidential election year. In 2016, McConnell blocked Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama s pick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

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McConnell had said Garlands confirmation would be too close to the election and that whoever won the presidency should pick the nominee. But McConnell and many of Trumps Republican allies changed course following Ginsburgs death earlier this month.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who vehemently opposed confirming Garland because of the processs proximity to the 2016 election, has said he supports Trumps push to swiftly confirm Barrett.

Graham said Saturday that his committee will begin Barretts confirmation hearings on Monday, Oct. 12 with opening statements. Tuesday and Wednesday of that week will be reserved for committee members to ask Barrett questions before the committee begins the markup process that Thursday.