Senators allege Trump nominated Barrett to help win election

Senator Durbin claimed Trump nominated Barrett to fill Ginsburg’s vacancy to help accomplish his “political chores” and “rule in favor of any election contest” during Monday’s opening statements. Senator Leahy echoed Durbin’s sentiments, “he’s counting on you to deliver him the election,” to Barrett as he asked if she would recuse herself from any election-related cases in the future. Barrett cited late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s description of when justice should recuse themselves when she refused to give a comment on the subject until an actual case on the matter comes before her. “Not only reading the [recusal] statute, looking at the precedent, consulting counsel if necessary. While it is always the decision of the individual justice, it always happens after consultation with the full court. So I can’t offer an opinion on recusal without short-circuiting that entire process,” Barrett said.