The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday advanced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court to the full Senate. The vote was a unanimous 12 to 0 with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats boycotting the vote.
Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said it’s normal procedure for senators to get a chance to interview these candidates before a vote by the full Senate. But he says he was not given that chance with Barrett.
"The only time that hasn’t happened with me was with Kavanaugh," Tester said. "And I believe that was done for political reasons cause I was up for reelection. And I don’t think the Trump administration wanted me to be able to say I had visited with Kavanaugh. Nonetheless, we are not up for election this time and we asked for a meeting with Amy Coney Barrett and we have not heard back yet."
Tester said he would like to have visited with her and make a decision based on that meeting. He did not say how he plans to vote when speaking with reporters Thursday.
Montana’s Republican Sen. Steve Daines was able to meet with Judge Barrett. He says she’ll uphold Second Amendment rights and won’t legislate from the bench. Daines says he looks forward to casting his vote to confirm her to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the court.
The full Senate vote on Barrett’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court is set for Monday.
