Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Barrett scheduled to begin on Monday

The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for Trump Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett will start Monday, despite two panel members recently testing positive for the coronavirus cases, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday.

McConnell said the confirmation process — likely two days of questions and answers — will start as scheduled so that the Senate can vote on whether to confirm Barrett to the high court before the Nov. 3 elections. 

The Kentucky Republican also expressed confidence that committee chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was prepared to conduct the hearings, at the conclusion of which the GOP-controlled committee is expected to recommend Barrett get a final vote by the full Senate. 

"Judge Barrett's hearings will begin one week from today. Chairman Graham has all the tools to conduct a hybrid hearing, just like the 150 others the Senate has held this year," McConnell said on Twitter. "We will not stop working for the American people because Democrats are afraid they may lose a vote."

When three Republican Senators tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, the confirmation timeline was briefly put into jeopardy. With the option to be present remotely, however, the process will continue.

GOP committee members Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have tested positive. Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson has also tested positive.