Durbin: Democrats can ‘slow’ Supreme Court confirmation ‘perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most’

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sunday that the Democrats can “slow” the Supreme Court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett “perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most.”

Durbin countered suggestions from Adam Jentleson, a deputy chief of staff for former Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), that Senate Democrats could delay Barrett’s confirmation by denying unanimous consent to meet and holding a series of quorum calls.

{mosads}“That’s not good enough?” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked Durbin.

“I know Adam. I like Adam and respect him, but he’s wrong,” the Illinois senator responded. 

“We could slow it down perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at the most, but we can’t stop the outcome,” he added. “What we should do is to address this now respectfully.”

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 can’t stop the outcome.” https://t.co/zTNMzk2uyg pic.twitter.com/mA8TYkY9Df

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 27, 2020

Durbin said his caucus has “no procedural silver bullet” to delay the confirmation battle beyond the election.

“That’s true,” the Senate Democratic Whip told Stephanopoulos, adding that if two GOP senators beyond Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) decide against confirming Barrett ahead of the election, “then we could have a different timing, perhaps a different outcome.”

Several Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they will not meet with Barrett, straying from tradition. 

When asked whether he would meet with Barrett, Durbin said he will “extend that courtesy, if she requests it, for at least a socially distanced, safe meeting, perhaps over the phone.”

“I want to be respectful,” he said. “We disagree on some things. And in terms of participating in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, I’ll be there to do my job.”

Trump officially nominated Barrett on Saturday to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court. Ginsburg died on Sept. 18.

Barrett’s nomination came 38 days ahead of the presidential election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has committed to hold a vote on Trump’s nominee, despite his position in 2016 to block Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing for being too close to the election. McConnell argues the situations are dissimilar because the White House and Senate majority are both held by Republicans.

Former President Obama nominated Garland nine months ahead of the 2016 election.