Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett had a blank notepad the entire time when she was being grilled during the confirmation hearing. This means she answered all of the Senators' questions without reference! During her confirmation hearing, Texas Senator, John Cornyn, asked Barrett what she had been using as her reference in answering the questions asked by the 22 Senate Judiciary Committee team. Cornyn expected Barrett to have several reference notebooks that would help her in answering the Senators' questions.
However, when Cornyn asked her to hold up her reference notebook or anything that she had been using to answer the questions, Barrett lifted a blank Notepad as she was smiling.
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Cornyn asked Barrett if there was anything on the notepad, then Barrett replied that it only contained a letterhead, "United States Senate." This amazed the Senate Judiciary Committee members, and Barrett's blank notepad has gone viral on social media, with some people filling their hashtags on the blank pad. On Twitter, the Kentucky Republicans shared Barrett's photo of her lifting the blank notepad, but they wrote in the empty notepad #FILLTHESEAT. The conservatives want Barrett's nomination confirmed before the election date.
According to FOX 4 News, an environmental organization called Sierra Club shared Barrett's photo of the empty notepad on Twitter but wrote the words "Delay this until the inauguration". Barrett's confirmation hearings have ended, and it seems that the Senate Judiciary Committee is determined to have her proceed to the confirmation.
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The senators have been questioning Barrett on various contentious issues such as abortion, the LGBTQ community, religious freedoms, the Affordable Care Act, and guns. However, the Democrats have complained that Barrett sidestepped questions that touched on these contentious issues. Barrett, on her part, said that she would always have an open mind on any matter brought to her in court.
Amy’s confirmation is expected to pass because the Republicans enjoy the majority numbers in the senate. The same Senate Judiciary Committee that vetted Barrett is assumed to vote on 22nd October, and then it proceeds to the full house. Although the Democrats were calling for the halting of Amy's nomination until after the inauguration, the Republicans who are the majority in the house will defeat them. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said that they have the numbers in the senate that would give Barrett the high court seat!
Sources: usatoday.com, fox4kc.com, npr.org.