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Amy Coney Barrett: Coronavirus threat hangs over confirmation hearing for Trump's Supreme Court pick

The US president formally nominated Ms Barrett last month at a ceremony that has since been labelled a "superspreader event".

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in during the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice in the Hart Senate Office Building on October 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. With less than a month until the presidential election, President Donald Trump tapped Amy Coney Barrett to be his third Supreme Court nominee in just four years. If confirmed, Barrett would replace the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Image: Amy Coney Barrett's husband, children and siblings were present
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The threat of coronavirus hung over the opening confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court on Monday - after at least one senator present had tested positive for the disease.

Mr Trump formally nominated Amy Coney Barrett at a packed White House ceremony in the Rose Garden on 26 September.

A number of his aides and allies, including Republican Senator Mike Lee, tested positive for COVID-19 days later.

The ceremony has since been labelled a "superspreader event" for coronavirus.

Mr Lee told reporters "I feel great" as he entered the hearing room wearing a blue surgical mask on Monday - nine days after disclosing he had a positive result which would normally prompt a 10 to 14 day quarantine.

The senator removed his mask to deliver his opening statement to the audience that included some of the oldest members of the Senate.

Ms Barrett's husband, children and siblings were also present.

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Mike Lee tested positive for coronavirus after the Rose Garden event
Image: Mike Lee tested positive for coronavirus after the Rose Garden event

Mr Trump's Supreme Court pick was seen removing her mask at least once while Mr Lee was speaking as she took a sip of water.

Another Republican committee member to test positive after the 26 September event, Thom Tillis, was not in the hearing room.

He had announced that he would be among senators taking part remotely on Monday, but was expected to appear in person later in the week.

Lindsey Graham has refused to be tested for coronavirus
Image: Lindsey Graham has refused to be tested for coronavirus

Senator Kamala Harris, a judiciary committee member and the Democrat vice presidential nominee for the 3 November election, said the hearing should have been postponed due to the recent spate of infections.

She said: "This committee has ignored common sense requests to keep people safe - including not requiring testing for all members - despite a coronavirus outbreak among senators of this very committee."

Senator Lindsey Graham, the committee's Republican chairman and a close Trump ally, insisted that enough had been done to protect those present.

He said: "We've set up a room in a fashion where we can safely do our business."

Mr Graham's senate re-election debate was cancelled on Friday after he refused to be tested for coronavirus.

Opinion polls show that Mr Graham is in a tight race to win a fourth term as a South Carolina senator.

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Conway shakes hands days before positive test

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Mr Graham said he had been tested a week before the debate.

Ms Harris also raised concerns the Republicans are "trying to get a justice onto the court in time to ensure they can strip away the protections of the Affordable Care Act".

The law gives more than 20 million Americans health insurance coverage.

Mr Trump's nomination of Ms Barrett to a vacancy created by the death of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg has enraged Democrats, who argue a replacement should be decided after the presidential election next month.

Ms Barrett said Americans "deserve an independent Supreme Court that interprets our Constitution and laws as they are written" during the confirmation hearing.

Her comments encapsulated her conservative approach to the law that has Republicans excited about the prospect of her taking the place of Ms Ginsburg.