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Amy Barrett hearing: Lindsey Graham jokes about Mike Lee's Covid-19 recovery, Internet slams 'selfish a**holes'

Senator Mike Lee faced pushback for going maskless at the event despite testing positive for Covid-19 11 days ago

Utah Senator Mike Lee, who was once a clerk to Justice Samuel Alton, spoke during the Senate confirmation hearing on Monday, October 12 for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. He stressed a judge should not stray into policy decisions but limit themselves to justice issues such as the dormant commerce clause, eliciting a joke from fellow Republican Sen Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Meanwhile, Lee faced pushback for going maskless at the event despite testing positive for Covid-19 11 days ago.

Graham, who serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cracked a joke after Lee was finished. “Definitely some good news,” he said. “Senator Lee's enthusiasm for the dormant commerce clause convinces me you have made a full recovery.” Graham then turned to Sen Sheldon Whitehouse for his 10 minutes. 

The Rhode Island Democrat, however, went on to brand the hearing an “irresponsible botch” and described it as a “microcosm of Trump’s dangerous ineptitude in dealing with the Covid pandemic.” Whitehouse noted that it was Graham's duty to guarantee the committee's safety, but claimed he didn't know “who has been tested, who should be tested, who is a danger, what contact tracing has been done on infected and exposed senators and staff.” 

"The irony is that this slap-dash hearing targets the Affordable Care Act,” he continued. “I hope Republicans consider what's at stake for the many people who depend right now, in this pandemic, on ACA health coverage,” he concluded. Lee tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month. Prior to his Senate appearance, he released a letter he received on October 12 from the attending physician of the United States Congress Dr Brian Monahan stating he no longer had to isolate. 

Nonetheless, may Twitter users were was quick to slam Senator Lee for his "selfish" appearance at the Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Barrett. "Utah GOP Sen Mike Lee appearing at Barrett hearing in person, without a mask, just 10 days after testing positive for covid, violating CDC quarantine guidelines. This is the same guy who says he doesn't believe in democracy," Author Ari Berman tweeted. "Unbelievable. Mike Lee, who just tested positive for #COVID19 is participating in person at the #SCOTUS nomination hearing for Amy Coney Barrett. His nose is barely covered," lawyer Kristen Clarke added.

"Why is Senator Mike Lee, who tested Covid-positive, speaking without wearing a mask at this hearing with Judge Barrett and her family present and everyone else there exposed?" author Michael Beschloss chimed in. "With mike lee going mask off and Lindsay graham potentially infected there's a chance this hearing becomes the second Barrett superspreader event," NYT columnist Jamelle Bouie wrote.

"Sen Ted Cruz is appearing virtually. He has tested negative for Covid but has been self-quarantining after coming into contact with Sen Mike Lee...who tested positive and delivered his in-person maskless opening statement in the hearing room," MSNBC anchor Hallie Jackson added. "Mike Lee and Lindsey Graham are both selfish a**holes. One for not wearing a mask when he tested positive for Covid-19, and the other for not testing when he might have Covid-19," wrote Majid Padellan.