Murkowski Reverses Original Statement, Will Vote to Confirm Barrett

 

It seems like only a month ago that Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she would not vote to confirm controversial Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election, doubling down on her statement in the days after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

That’s because it was only a month ago. Murkowski had been keeping her decision private and had previously said that she did not believe the Senate should be taking up a Supreme Court nomination this close to the election.

And yet Murkowski has done a full 180 on her original stance, releasing a statement Saturday afternoon after speaking to the Senate, explaining why she’s going to be helping the GOP push through a nominee most of America doesn’t want.  “I believe that the only way to put us back on the path of appropriate consideration of judicial nominees, is to evaluate Judge Barrett as we would want to be judged — on the merits of her qualifications. And we do that when that final question comes before us. And when it does, I will be a yes,” Murkowski said from the Senate floor.

Murkowski also tweeted her statement, igniting a furious response from Twitter users who were still creating a huge ratio Saturday night.

Amy Coney Barrett has 3 years of experience as a judge. She lied on her paperwork, failing to disclose speeches she gave that were anti-choice. She refused to answer questions. How is she qualified to serve a LIFETIME on the Supreme Court?

— Nell Scovell (@NellSco) October 24, 2020

You’re an incredible hypocrite. I hope you work with Sarah Palin next.

— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@NotHoodlum) October 24, 2020

Murkowski’s announcement comes just one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cut off debate and set up a final confirmation vote for Barrett to take place just eight days before the election. McConnell’s move sets up a Sunday afternoon procedural vote to break a Democratic filibuster and then a final confirmation vote, likely Monday evening. Democrats had boycotted the vote to move the nomination forward, but Senate Republicans held the vote despite not having a Democratic quorum as the rules require.

Lisa Murkowski folding to lawless Trumpism is proof that no current elected Republican upholds their oath of office.

Traitors, all of them.

— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 24, 2020

Lisa Murkowski is trash. The whole party is trash. 10 days we make them pay.

— Travon Free (@Travon) October 24, 2020