According to USA Today
All 12 Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination Thursday, clearing the way for the full Senate to vote on her confirmation Monday. Democrats opted to boycott the hearing, leaving no one to oppose the nomination.
Democrats had said they would not attend the hearing and vote, hoping to prevent the committee from establishing a quorum. Instead, Democrats held a press conference Thursday morning and placed pictures of people they said were beneficiaries of the Affordable Care Act on their chairs in the committee meeting room.
Republicans moved forward with the vote anyway, quickly approving Barrett just minutes into what was scheduled to be an hours-long hearing.
“Judge Barrett is going to the floor,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., after the panel finished voting on Barrett’s nomination. “I hope you look back at this time on the committee and say I was there when it mattered. And you were.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called it “surreal” for the panel to vote on Barrett’s nomination without Democrats there. He criticized the Democrats’ placement of pictures on their chairs as “theater.”
The entire hearing was over in about an hour, and after the senators finished their votes, Republican lawmakers took turns criticizing Democrats for not showing up and responded to arguments Democrats raised during Barrett’s confirmation hearings.
“The other side, having failed to lay a glove on Judge Barrett, have walked out on this process. And so doing, walk out on the American people,” said. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.
President Donald Trump congratulated Republicans on the proceedings, calling it a “Big day for America!” in a tweet.
As the hearing concluded, Democrats on the committee and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke on the steps of the Capitol, denouncing the proceedings as “illegitimate.”
“A Republican majority has left us no choice” but to boycott the hearing, Schumer said, accusing Graham of having “steamrolled over” the committee’s own rules to approve Barrett.
Protesters were audible during Democrats’ press conference, with some dressed in handmaid costumes and shouting at Democrats for having “showed up and legitimized the process.” Capitol Police said six people were arrested for “blocking, obstructing, or incommoding” a public street or building.
Graham called the boycott of the hearing Democrats’ “choice,” but countered that he would not allow Democrats “to take over the committee.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s rules outline that at least nine members of the majority (Republicans) and at least two members of the minority (Democrats) need to be present to conduct business.
While Democrats boycotting the hearing technically meant the committee’s rules barred Republicans from moving forward on Barrett’s nomination, it wasn’t expected to stop the process.