Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Democrat Joe Biden’s running mate for vice president, skipped a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for United States Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett despite attending a number of indoor events on the campaign trail.
During her remarks on the first day of Barrett’s confirmation process, Harris blasted the hearing as “reckless” in the face of “a deadly, airborne virus,” referring to the Chinese coronavirus crisis.
“This hearing has brought together more than 50 people to sit inside of a closed-door room for hours while our nation is facing a deadly, airborne virus,” Harris said through a monitor as she sat in her office in California.
“This committee has ignored common sense requests to keep people safe, including not requiring testing for all members despite a coronavirus outbreak among senators of this very committee,” Harris continued. “… The decision to hold this hearing now is reckless and places facility workers, janitorial staff, and professional aides, and Capitol Police at risk.”
Despite claiming she skipped the hearing because of the risk of contracting the Chinese coronavirus, Harris has attended numerous indoor events packed with people including the recent vice presidential debate which featured an indoor audience and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s funeral.
Harris made the accusations even as the majority of her Senate Democrat colleagues showed up to the hearing including senators who are much older than her like Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris arrives for the vice presidential debate in Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah on October 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (MORRY GASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence participate in the vice presidential debate moderated by Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today Susan Page (C) at the University of Utah on October 7, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris (R) and husband Doug Emhoff stand onstage after the vice presidential debate in Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah on October 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Senator Kamala Harris (C) gestures while waiting for ceremonies to honor US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2020. (ERIN SCHAFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) (2L) looks on while waiting for ceremonies to honor US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2020. (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris is seen during a memorial service for late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lies in state at National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol on September 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Greg Nash – Pool/Getty Images)
Democratic U.S. Vice Presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) (C) participates in a Latino roundtable event on September 17, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a conversation with Latino leaders and elected officials at Taller Puertorriqueno in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 17, 2020. (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
Caesars Palace employee and member of the Carpenters Union Eddie Ramos, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, Dream Big Nevada Executive Director and immigrant rights activist Astrid Silva, Democratic U.S. Vice Presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Regina Simmons, owner of vegan Mexican restaurant Tacotarian, and DREAMer, immigrant rights activist and UNLV student Dulce Valencia participate in a community roundtable discussing the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Latino families at the Rafael Rivera Community Center on September 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Democratic U.S. Vice Presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) (L) listens to Regina Simmons, owner of vegan Mexican restaurant Tacotarian, during a community roundtable discussing the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Latino families at the Rafael Rivera Community Center on September 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris speaks during a Community Conversation with African-American Leaders at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens,Florida on September 10, 2020. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) participates in a community conversation with African-American leaders during a campaign stop at Florida Memorial University on September 10, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.
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