Thread by @jbendery

Democratic Judiciary Committee members are outside on the Senate steps protesting Barrett's confirmation process.

"The U.S. Senate has never, never considered a Supreme Court justice this close to a national presidential election day," says Schumer, SHOUTING into a microphone.

Dianne Feinstein, ranking Dem on Judiciary, reminds everyone that Republicans blocked Obama's SCOTUS pick, Merrick Garland, for 10 months in 2016 because, they argued, it was a presidential election year.

"Now, however, Republicans are proceeding regardless."

"This hearing was anything but fair," says Sen. Leahy, who was the ranking Dem on Judiciary when the GOP blocked Merrick Garland's SCOTUS nomination in 2016.

"They broke their word to finish a confirmation process that has become a caricature of illegitimacy."

"She didn't have the courage to stand up to President Trump and say she would not be a lackey of his when it came to an election contest," Sen. Durbin says of Amy Coney Barrett.

"They are turning that institution into a pantomime court that goes through the motions of adjudication but delivers the goods for the donors," Sen. Whitehouse says of GOP + dark money donors, pointing at the Supreme Court across the street. "This ain't over."

"This is a Justice Ginsburg dissent collar," says Sen. Klobuchar, holding up her mask with a print of a collar on it. "I think we should not forget what her last fervent wish was. That was that the winner of the election, the next president, pick her successor."

"The only way the Republican majority was able to [advance Barrett's nomination] was by breaking the rules of the committee," says Sen. Coons, referring to the Judiciary Committee rule that 2 members of minority must be present to do business. Graham ignored that rule today.

"She has passed the Trump test -- he calls it a 'strong test' -- to strike down the ACA, overturn Roe v Wade," Sen. Blumenthal says of Barrett. "That's the reason she wouldn't answer our questions."

"We all know that Amy Barrett is a clear and present danger to the Affordable Care Act," says Sen. Hirono, turning to RBG's legacy. "It wasn't long ago that we lost her. Have we forgotten all the things that she fought for?"

Hirono with the RBG mask.

"We stand resolute and in lockstep with tens of millions of Americans of all backgrounds, all persuasions, all political parties, in the firm belief that what Senate Republicans are doing right now is wrong," says Sen. Cory Booker. "They are violating their own words."

Press conference over.

Dems using their final days before Barrett's confirmation vote on Monday to make their case to the public that this process is a sham and her confirmation is a threat to millions of Americans' health care + repro rights.