Three things for September 28
1. Trump officially nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court
On Saturday, President Trump formally nominated Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court vacancy.
“I looked, and I studied, and you are very eminently qualified for this job,” Trump told Barrett. “You are going to be fantastic.”
Senate Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham confirmed the nomination hearings will begin on October 12.
“It’s going to go fast. We’re looking to do it before the election. So it’s going to go very fast,” said Trump.
According to AP News, the hearings are part of an accelerated timeline. The Senate seeks to vote on Trump’s nominee before the election on Nov. 3.
If confirmed, Barrett will replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Sept. 18.
2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes first woman to lie in state at US Capitol
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday due to cancer, makes history one last time as the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol. She is also the first Jewish person to be given that honor.
Ginsburg joins Rosa Parks, John Lewis and Abraham Lincoln as those who were laid in state or laid in honor at the Capitol.
Lying in state is meant for government officials and military officers, and lying in honor is intended for private citizens.
This tribute is considered a very high honor and allows the general public to pay their respects.
3. Fighting erupts between Armenia and Azerbaijan
At least 16 military personnel and two civilians were killed on Sunday in a clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
According to AP News, the clash between the two former Soviet republics was the latest flare-up of a long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh reported 16 of its servicemen were killed and more than 100 wounded after Azerbaijan launched an air attack on Sunday morning.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have both declared martial law.
The U.S. State Department condemned the violence in a statement and called for an immediate halt to hostilities and any rhetoric or other actions that could worsen the situation.
In a statement, Presidential nominee Joe Biden said hostilities could escalate into a wider conflict and urged the Trump administration to push for more observers along the ceasefire line. He also pushed for Russia “to stop cynically providing arms to both sides.”
