Senate To Hold Its First Socially Distanced Hearing

The New York Times reports:

The Senate on Tuesday will consider the nomination of Representative John Ratcliffe [photo], Republican of Texas, to be director of national intelligence, its first hearing since the coronavirus pandemic sent its members home a month ago.

The 9:30 a.m. hearing will be unusual, with a measure of social distancing enforced. Few lawmakers normally choose to sit through the entirety of a confirmation hearing, but senators have been given time slots to come to the hearing room. No more than six lawmakers are supposed to be in the room at once.

President Trump first proposed installing Mr. Ratcliffe, a loyal supporter, in the job last summer, only to abruptly rescind the plan after lawmakers questioned Mr. Ratcliffe’s lack of experience and partisan record in the House, and news reports highlighted several instances in which Mr. Ratcliffe had appeared to inflate or distort aspects of his résumé.