Barrett sidesteps Democratic questions amid high-stakes grilling | TheHill

I think she has revealed that she is evading a lot of the tough questions," Blumenthal said.Democrats are eager to have Barrett weigh in on health care, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as they put the issue at the forefront of the fight over her nomination."Now they think they have a winner to tilt the court not only on the Affordable Care Act but on reproductive freedoms and the sensible gun violence measures that states are passing,” Blumenthal told reporters on Tuesday morning.Barrett said she was not “hostile” to the ACA, or any legislation passed by Congress.Senators asked Barrett if she would recuse herself from the ACA case or a case involving the outcome of the Nov. 3 election, saying that President TrumpDonald John TrumpTwo ethics groups call on House to begin impeachment inquiry against Barr Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis McGrath: McConnell 'can't get it done' on COVID-19 relief MORE’s comments on how he would expect his nominee to rule in both cases presented conflicts for her.Barrett declined to say what she would do in those situations."It always happens after consultation with the full court, so I can't offer an opinion on recusal without short-circuiting that entire process," Barrett said.Asked separately if the president had the authority to unilaterally delay the election, Barrett declined to say, adding that giving “off the cuff answers” would make her a “legal pundit.”Barrett, however, did try to put space between herself and the White House about any cases that may reach the Supreme Court, noting she had never discussed the ACA or an election-related case with Trump or anyone else on his staff.“I have had no conversation with the president or any of his staff on how I might rule in that case.