Barrett reportedly flying to DC as Trump prepares to name court pick

by Celine Castronuovo - 09/26/20 1:29 PM ET

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is allegedly on her way to Washington, D.C., Bloomberg reported Saturday, a day after sources confirmed to The Hill that President Trump would nominate the conservative judge to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

According to Bloomberg, a person familiar with the situation said that Barrett was flying to Washington on Saturday, with Trump planning to officially announce her nomination at a White House ceremony at 5 p.m. However, sources told Bloomberg that the president could still change his mind.

A video posted on Twitter by NBC News White House Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell appeared to show Barrett and her family leaving their Indiana home early Saturday afternoon.

NEW: Judge Amy Coney Barrett and her large family left their Indiana home this afternoon dressed up for a special occasion. Our @GaryGrumbach on the scene for us. Announcement at 5pm at WH for Supreme Court nomination. pic.twitter.com/A4yVNo7jgE

— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) September 26, 2020

A Republican official told The Hill on Friday that Trump began telling associates on Capitol Hill that he was planning to nominate Barrett.

Barrett, who in 2017 was nominated by Trump and confirmed to serve as a judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, is a devout Catholic, making her popular among conservative GOP members who are hoping to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Trump had told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Friday evening that he had made his decision in his “own mind” but did not confirm if Barrett was the choice.

“I haven’t said it was her, but she is outstanding,” Trump said of Barrett.

According to Bloomberg, the sources familiar with Trump’s decision asked not to be identified by name because the president had yet to make an official announcement.

Trump told reporters as he returned to Washington on Friday from a campaign trip to Miami and Atlanta, “You’re going to find out tomorrow.”

Barrett became the front-runner in the GOP race to fill the vacancy after Ginsburg died of complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87 last Friday.