Rep. Ilhan Omar called for “expanding” the U.S. Supreme Court Monday night after the Senate voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Barrett was confirmed in a vote of 52-48 Monday evening and was sworn in shortly after by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas during a ceremony at the White House. Every Democratic senator, including both of Minnesota’s U.S. senators, voted against her confirmation. Sen. Susan Collins was the only Republican to vote against Barrett’s confirmation.
“Expand the court,” Omar wrote on Twitter Monday night. “Remember that Republicans have lost 6 of the last 7 popular votes, but have appointed 6 of the last 9 justices.”
“By expanding the court we fix this broken system and have the court better represent the values of the American people,” she added.
Remember that Republicans have lost 6 of the last 7 popular votes, but have appointed 6 of the last 9 justices.
By expanding the court we fix this broken system and have the court better represent the values of the American people.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 27, 2020
In another tweet, Omar called the confirmation process a “sham” and an “abuse of power” while accusing Barrett of being an “extremist.”
“We can’t let them get away with their corruption and hypocrisy any longer,” she said.
The Senate GOP rammed through an extremist Supreme Court justice in a sham process as a final abuse of power before Election Day.
We can't let them get away with their corruption and hypocrisy any longer. Let’s mobilize like hell these last 8 days to end their destructive reign.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 27, 2020
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made similar comments, saying Republicans confirmed Barrett because “they don’t believe Dems have the stones to play hardball like they do.”
“And for a long time they’ve been correct. But do not let them bully the public into thinking their bulldozing is normal but a response isn’t. There is a legal process for expansion,” she said.
Republicans do this because they don’t believe Dems have the stones to play hardball like they do. And for a long time they’ve been correct. But do not let them bully the public into thinking their bulldozing is normal but a response isn’t. There is a legal process for expansion.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 27, 2020
Barrett delivered some brief remarks after she was sworn in and discussed the independence of the judicial branch.
“It is the job of a senator to pursue her policy preferences. In fact, it would be a dereliction of duty for her to put policy goals aside. By contrast, it is the job of a judge to resist her policy preferences. It would be a dereliction of duty for her to give in to them,” said Barrett.
“Federal judges don’t stand for election. Thus, they have no basis for claiming that their preferences reflect those of the people. This separation of duty from political preference is what makes the judiciary distinct among the three branches of government,” she added.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
