Kamala Harris calls Supreme Court confirmation hearing 'reckless' in remote appearance

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic presidential nominee, gave her opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee's Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett remotely Monday, and — after some initial technical difficulties — she didn't hold back her displeasure that virtual appearances weren't required.

Holding the hearing indoors and in-person was a "reckless" decision, Harris said, noting that it's not just her colleagues in the Senate who were at risk, but also staff in the capitol and congressional aides. “This hearing has brought together more than 50 people to sit inside of a closed-door room for hours while our nation is facing a deadly airborne virus," Harris said. "This committee has ignored common-sense requests to keep people safe."

Harris wasn't the only lawmaker who appeared remotely, of course. Multiple senators from both parties used video technology to give their statements from afar, though most were in attendance, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who tested positive for the coronavirus 10 days ago, but said he was no longer infectious and was granted physician's approval.

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