[Others do not want to touch it, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), the committee's ranking Democrat, who also is a Catholic.] Just as we're supposed to be colorblind, we should be religious blind, ... We have no religious test for public office ... and I think anyone would find that sort of inquiry, if it were actually made, offensive.

[Others do not want to touch it, including Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the committee's ranking Democrat, who also is a Catholic.] Just as we're supposed to be colorblind, we should be religious-blind, ... We have no religious test for public office . . . and I think anyone would find that sort of inquiry, if it were actually made, offensive.

[Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said he had] an interesting and a good meeting ... to be open about every question.

I personally find that not only false but condescending and really inappropriate.

I would ask everyone not to prejudge the nominee. I would ask everyone to take a deep breath, to look at her background and qualifications and to give her a chance before the Judiciary Committee.

I wouldn't want to speculate as to what's happened or not going to happen with regard to the grand jury, ... I simply don't know. In fact, I would suggest that none of us know, since it's supposed to be a confidential proceeding, by law.