Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said he expects Democrats to pull some “shenanigans” to disrupt this week’s Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
“The delay tactics of the Democrats aren’t going to work and I think we’re going to see, by the way, some more procedural games and shenanigans. I don’t know what they’re going to do, whether it’s try to boycott meetings or try to impeach the president but I think they’re going to try to do something to delay it,” Cruz said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“It’s not going to work. I believe we have the votes and I believe Judge Barrett on the merits is going to be confirmed and confirmed by the end of the month before Election Day,” he continued.
Barrett’s hearings begin Monday morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to bring her nomination up for a vote before Nov. 3.
Host Chuck Todd asked the Texas lawmaker if he considered calls by Democrats to postpone the hearings because some senators have become infected by the coronavirus a delay tactic.
Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, members of the committee, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I think all the senators are following the guidance of the attending physician at the Capitol. As for me personally, as you noted, I’m at the tail-end of a self-quarantine. I got tested, I came out negative. And I’m spending two weeks sitting here in my apartment in D.C.,” said Cruz, who went into self-imposed isolation after coming into contact with Lee.
Cruz went on to say that he wants to do what is “reasonable and beneficial” to ensure people taking part in the hearings are safe and protected.
“When you look at the hearing, I mean the Senate has had about 150 hearings that have been either remote or hybrid at this point. In the age of COVID, the Senate’s gotten pretty good at this,” he said. “I think most of the senators are likely to be physically present, some may participate via virtual interaction with Judge Barrett.”