As the Senate prepares to vote on his nomination for the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh defended himself in an emotional op-ed in the Wall St. Journal.
Kavanaugh acknowledged Thursday he “might have been too emotional” when testifying in response to unproven allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct but he said he was so emotional because he wanted to clear his name of false claims.
Kavanaugh said there were “a few things I should not have said” during the hearing.
“I said a few things I should not have said,” he admitted. “I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad. I testified with five people foremost in my mind: my mom, my dad, my wife, and most of all my daughters.”
He said this was due to the effect those allegations have had on him and his family.
“After all those meetings and after my initial hearing concluded, I was subjected to wrongful and sometimes vicious allegations. My time in high school and college, more than 30 years ago, has been ridiculously distorted. My wife and daughters have faced vile and violent threats,” Kavanaugh wrote.
The judge explained he will remain optimistic in the days ahead and put the past behind him.
“I revere the Constitution. I believe that an independent and impartial judiciary is essential to our constitutional republic. If confirmed by the Senate to serve on the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case and always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law,” he concluded.
“Going forward, you can count on me to be the same kind of judge and person I have been for my entire 28-year legal career: hardworking, even-keeled, open-minded, independent and dedicated to the Constitution and the public good,” he wrote.
Here are his full remarks:
I was deeply honored to stand at the White House July 9 with my wife, Ashley, and my daughters, Margaret and Liza, to accept President Trump’s nomination to succeed my former boss and mentor, Justice Anthony Kennedy, on the Supreme Court. My mom, Martha—one of the first women to serve as a Maryland prosecutor and trial judge, and my inspiration to become a lawyer—sat in the audience with my dad, Ed.
That night, I told the American people who I am and what I believe. I talked about my 28-year career as a lawyer, almost all of which has been in public service. I talked about my 12 years as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often called the second most important court in the country, and my five years of service in the White House for President George W. Bush. I talked about my long record of advancing and promoting women, including as a judge—a majority of my 48 law clerks have been women—and as a longtime coach of girls’ basketball teams.
As I explained that night, a good judge must be an umpire—a neutral and impartial arbiter who favors no political party, litigant or policy. As Justice Kennedy has stated, judges do not make decisions to reach a preferred result. Judges make decisions because the law and the Constitution compel the result. Over the past 12 years, I have ruled sometimes for the prosecution and sometimes for criminal defendants, sometimes for workers and sometimes for businesses, sometimes for environmentalists and sometimes for coal miners. In each case, I have followed the law. I do not decide cases based on personal or policy preferences. I am not a pro-plaintiff or pro-defendant judge. I am not a pro-prosecution or pro-defense judge. I am a pro-law judge.
As Justice Kennedy showed us, a judge must be independent, not swayed by public pressure. Our independent judiciary is the crown jewel of our constitutional republic. The Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers, and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Supreme Court must never be viewed as a partisan institution. The justices do not sit on opposite sides of an aisle. They do not caucus in separate rooms. As I have said repeatedly, if confirmed to the court, I would be part of a team of nine, committed to deciding cases according to the Constitution and laws of the United States. I would always strive to be a team player.
During the confirmation process, I met with 65 senators and explained my approach to the law. I participated in more than 30 hours of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I submitted written answers to nearly 1,300 additional questions. I was grateful for the opportunity.
After all those meetings and after my initial hearing concluded, I was subjected to wrongful and sometimes vicious allegations. My time in high school and college, more than 30 years ago, has been ridiculously distorted. My wife and daughters have faced vile and violent threats.
Against that backdrop, I testified before the Judiciary Committee last Thursday to defend my family, my good name and my lifetime of public service. My hearing testimony was forceful and passionate. That is because I forcefully and passionately denied the allegation against me. At times, my testimony—both in my opening statement and in response to questions—reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused, without corroboration, of horrible conduct completely contrary to my record and character. My statement and answers also reflected my deep distress at the unfairness of how this allegation has been handled.
I was very emotional last Thursday, more so than I have ever been. I might have been too emotional at times. I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said. I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad. I testified with five people foremost in my mind: my mom, my dad, my wife, and most of all my daughters.
Going forward, you can count on me to be the same kind of judge and person I have been for my entire 28-year legal career: hardworking, even-keeled, open-minded, independent and dedicated to the Constitution and the public good. As a judge, I have always treated colleagues and litigants with the utmost respect. I have been known for my courtesy on and off the bench. I have not changed. I will continue to be the same kind of judge I have been for the last 12 years. And I will continue to contribute to our country as a coach, volunteer, and teacher. Every day I will try to be the best husband, dad, and friend I can be. I will remain optimistic, on the sunrise side of the mountain. I will continue to see the day that is coming, not the day that is gone.
I revere the Constitution. I believe that an independent and impartial judiciary is essential to our constitutional republic. If confirmed by the Senate to serve on the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case and always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law.
His comments come after Senators viewed the newly-released FBI supplemental report on Kavanaugh and they are saying the investigation exonerates him.
The FBI interviewed nine potential witnesses in search of possible corroboration of Christine Ford’s claim that Kavanaugh forcibly groped her when they were teenagers. Although the report is not expected to be made public as FBI reports are usually not made public to protect the confidentiality of witnesses, potential witnesses named by Ford previously said they had no knowledge of the party where she claims the attack occurred. They reiterated those statements to the FBI.
SIGN THE PETITION: Vote to Confirm Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley viewed the FBI’s report and says nothing it in confirms the claims Christine Ford made about Brett Kavanaugh and added that it’s time to move forward to vote on his nomination.
“I’ve now received a committee staff briefing on the FBI’s supplement to Judge Kavanaugh’s background investigation file,” the Iowa GOP lawmaker said Thursday. “There’s nothing in it that we didn’t already know. These uncorroborated accusations have been unequivocally and repeatedly rejected by Judge Kavanaugh, and neither the Judiciary Committee nor the FBI could locate any third parties who can attest to any of the allegations.
“Fundamentally, we senators ought to wipe away the muck from all the mudslinging and politics and look at this nomination with clear eyes,” Grassley said. “Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified nominees to ever come before the Senate. He’s served with distinction for twelve years on the nation’s most important circuit court and dedicated himself to serving the American public. We know that he will be an excellent justice because he’s been an excellent judge.”
“This investigation found no hint of misconduct and the same is true of the six prior FBI background investigations conducted during Judge Kavanaugh’s 25 years of public service,” Grassley said. “I trust that the career agents of the FBI have done their work independent of political or partisan considerations. That’s exactly what senators from both sides asked for.”
“It’s time to vote,” Grassley added. “I’ll be voting to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”
After pushing for an FBI investigation, Senate Democrats are not pleased that the FBI probe essentially cleared Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of the unproven allegations Christine Ford made against him.
Meanwhile, North Dakota Democrat Sen. Heidi Heitkamp became nationally infamous after she celebrated a vote to defeat a ban on late-term abortions. Now she is giving residents of the state another reason to vote against her, because she will oppose Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court.
The Senate will vote Saturday on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to be the next Supreme Court justice now that the FBI has finished its 7th background check on him.
According to a news report in the Wall Street Journal late Wednesday night, the White House has found no corroboration of the sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh. Although the full FBI review will not be made public and the White House and Senate officials still have to look over the full documents, it appears the FBI report has exonerated judge Kavanaugh from the claims made by Christine Ford and others.
Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed for cloture on Kavanaugh’s nomination. That means the final vote on confirmation will take place on Saturday.
He told senators last night, “This evening, the Senate will receive the results of the FBI’s supplemental background investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. This is now the seventh time the FBI has looked into Judge Kavanaugh’s background. And this information comes on top of what has already been one of the most thorough, most exhaustive Senate reviews of any Supreme Court nominee in our nation’s history.”
“Five days of public hearings. Sixty-five private meetings with Senators. More than 1,200 responses to written questions from members. More than 500,000 pages of documents for review — the most produced for any Supreme Court nomination in history. And the 300-plus opinions Judge Kavanaugh has issued during his 12 years on the D.C. Circuit,” he explained. “And now, Senators will have the evidence collected by this additional background investigation for their consideration as well. Members will have the opportunity to review the investigators’ records. And, as is the standard procedure, designated Judiciary Committee staff members with the required clearances will be authorized to brief members.”
“There will be plenty of time for Members to review and be briefed on this supplemental material before a Friday cloture vote. So I am filing cloture on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination this evening so the process can move forward, as I indicated earlier this week,” McConnell concluded.
Keys to the vote will be Republican senators Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins. Every other Republican senator is on record supporting judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.
Meanwhile on the Democrat side, embattled Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Manchin may possibly support Kavanaugh assuming their read of the FBI report comes to the same conclusion. Every other Democrat is on record opposing Cavanaugh’s nomination.
While the FBI was putting its report together, new evidence came to light making it appear Christine Ford misled the Senate during her testimony.
As LifeNews reported, during her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Christine Ford claimed she had two doors installed in her home because she feared she may be a victim of assault again after Judge Brett Kavanaugh supposedly sexually assaulted her as a teenager. New reports indicate that claim is false. Then, an alleged ex-boyfriend of Ford’s came forward and said that she had once coached her longtime friend on how to take a polygraph test. That’s a contradiciton to what she told the Senate panel.
This is one of many inconsistencies sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell noted when she said Ford’s testimony was totally inconsistent.
Meanwhile, three witnesses told the FBI that they can’t back up Ford’s claims of a party where the Supreme Court nominee supposedly sexually assaulted her, and Kavanaugh accuser Julie Swetnick is recanting some of her allegations.
On Friday, on a partisan 11-10 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to support Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. All of the committee’s Republicans voted in favor of recommending Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination while every Democrat voted against that.
Before the vote, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona said he would support the vote but wanted the full Senate to delay the vote for one week to allow the FBI time to investigate the unproven allegations Christine Ford has made that Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her. Other senators agreed but there that is subject to the decision of Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer.
“I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote up to but not more than one week in order to let the FBI do an investigation limited in time and scope [on] the current allegations that are there,” Flake said after meeting for several minutes with Democrats on the committee.
Flake had announced he would support Kavanaugh but his indicated that he would not be a “yes” vote for Kavanaugh on the Senate floor until the FBI completes work on a new investigation. Flake, along with Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Joe Manchin, may all oppose confirming Kavanaugh while the FBI investigation continues — essentially forcing the probe to take place before a successful floor vote can occur.
Republican leaders have agreed to a 1-week delay to allow the FBI to investigate the unproven allegations against Kavanaugh.
The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) applauded the vote, telling LifeNews:
“We are pleased to see Judge Kavanaugh advance closer to confirmation and trust Leader McConnell to make a wise decision about next steps,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Judge Kavanaugh is a fair and independent judge in the mold of Justice Neil Gorsuch. By nominating him, President Trump is fulfilling a key promise to the voters who elected him. Vulnerable senators up for re-election should not underestimate grassroots support for Judge Kavanaugh and frustration with the tactics used to obstruct him. In battlegrounds like Missouri, North Dakota, Montana, West Virginia, and Indiana, an average of 75 percent of voters want their Democrat senator to vote to confirm Kavanaugh. They ignore their constituents at their political peril.
“It is time to end the politics of personal destruction. Ending the evil of sexual abuse of women and men will never be achieved by destroying good men and women. Respect for the dignity of all means listening as well as abiding by the rule of law. We thank Chairman Grassley for organizing yesterday’s hearing and the Judiciary Committee for moving swiftly to a vote. This exceptionally qualified nominee deserves a vote by the full Senate and should be confirmed with bipartisan support.”
Before the vote, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh ripped pro-abortion Democrats pushing false allegations that he sexually assaulted Christine Ford or other women as both destroying his family and the political process.
SIGN THE PETITION: Vote to Confirm Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
“This confirmation process has become a national disgrace,” Kavanaugh said during his opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process. But you have replaced advise and consent with search and destroy,” he continued.
Kavanaugh came out firing against those who have smeared his good name an engaged in a character assassination campaign against him. Kavanaugh made it unmistakably clear that he never sexually assaulted Christine Ford or anyone for that matter.
Psychologist Christine Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to recount her claims that Judge Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers.
During her testimony, Ford reasserted that claim but provided no proof or evidence to substantiate it. She provided no photos, no recordings, no videos, no records from law enforcement, and no other proof that her claims are accurate. The only evidence Ford presented were witnesses who she says were present at the time of the sexual assault. The only problem is each and every one of the witnesses all say it never happened.
During the hearing Ford said she is “100 percent” certain that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were high-school teenagers. But previously Kavanaugh said the claims are totally false.
Ford said Kavanaugh friend Mark Judge was also in the room. But he, too, says the allegations are false. He has no recollection of it, his counsel said in a statement, and he defended Kavanaugh’s integrity.
Judge says he has “no memory of this alleged incident” and “never saw Brett (Kavanaugh) act in the manner Dr. Ford describes.”
Meanwhile, Leland Keyser, believed to have been identified as one of five people at the party where Ford claims this incident occurred, has said it never happened.
Keyser, believed to have been identified as one of five people at the party, told the committee in a letter she “does not know Kavanaugh and she has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present, with or without Dr. Ford.”
Also, a Kavanaugh high school classmate named Patrick J. Smyth, has provided a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee rebutting Ford’s story.
“I understand that I have been identified by Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as ‘PJ’ who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post. … I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question, nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh.
“Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh toward women. To safeguard my own privacy and anonymity, I respectfully request that the Committee accept this statement in response to any inquiry the committee may have.”
Ford and her attorney are Democratic Party activists. For and her attorney Debra Katz have not only donated to Democrats, but also recently signed on to a Physicians for Human Rights letter protesting the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
Few media outlets have confronted Katz on her own Democratic activism. In 2017, Katz labeled all senior Trump administration officials to be “miscreants.” Hypocritically, she also staunchly and repeatedly defended Bill Clinton against claims of sexual harassment made by Paula Jones in the 1990s.
Additionally, Ford’s brother, Ralph Blasey III, once worked for the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP, but left that firm in 2004. The Daily Caller reported that Baker & Hostetler paid a company called Fusion GPS seven payments totaling more than a half million dollars in 2016. Fusion GPS was also the shadowy Democrat “dirty tricks” group hired by Planned Parenthood to produce the fake forensic analysis that supposedly “debunked” the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover videos.
And a peer and friend who knew Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as a high school student is vouching for his character amid accusations from a woman that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teens.
According to documents on file with the Maryland Court System, Ford’s parents, Ralph G. and Paula K. Blasey owned property that was in foreclosure. The judge who presided over that case was Brett Kavanaugh’s mother, Martha G. Kavanaugh.
Other women who knew Judge Kavanaugh during that time period vouch for his character and high moral standard.
Shortly after the details of the letter were made public by The New Yorker, the Senate Judiciary Committee shared a letter it received Friday from 65 women who knew Kavanaugh during their high school years.
“Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity,” the women wrote. “In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.”
This controversy followed on the heels of Senate Democrats getting caught lying about Kavanaugh. Since Kavanaugh’s hearings last week, numerous fact checks and advice to “drop the whopper of a talking point” from one of the largest newspapers in America have not stopped pro-abortion politicians from repeating false claims about U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The lies about Kavanaugh’s birth control beliefs began with U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California and continued with two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Washington Post, Politifact and others refuted their claims that Kavanaugh called birth control “abortion-inducing drugs,” but the pro-abortion politicians continue to push the lie.
This week, Kavanaugh also responded to the claims by clarifying what he meant when he used the term “abortion-inducing drugs” last week during the U.S. Senate hearings.
Abortion activists fear Kavanaugh, who has served on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for D.C. for more than a decade. He has an extensive record of protecting religious liberty, including in the Priests for Life case, and enforcing restrictions on abortion. Pro-life leaders believe he would do the same on the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins’ office says it has received threats of rape and other violence from abortion activists who want her to vote against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The Maine Republican is a key swing vote in Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Collins is pro-abortion, and she has not yet announced her decision about him.
Over the past few months, NARAL, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups have been targeting her with phone calls, political ads, fundraising for a pro-abortion Democrat opponent and a coat hanger campaign; but these attempts to influence may have the opposite effect.
Collins told reporters this week that her office has received a number of threatening phone calls and other messages, including one caller who threatened to rape one of her female staffers.
Under questioning from pro-life Senator Lindsey Graham, Kavanaugh confirmed there is no “specific” right to abortion in the Constitution.
“Is there any phrase in the Constitution about abortion?” Graham asked Kavanaugh.
“The Supreme Court has found that under the liberty clause, but you’re right that specific words,” Kavanaugh said before stopping as Graham continued. Kavanaugh clearly was beginning to admit Graham’s point that abortion or a right to abortion is never specifically addressed in the Constitution — but was made up by the Supreme Court in 1973.
During his nomination hearings, Judge Kavanaugh was been careful to discuss abortion within the context of what the Supreme Court has decided in the precedent-setting cases of Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood without biasing the hearings with his own views in a way that would force him to recuse himself in future abortion cases before the court.
During the first day of questioning, Judge Brett Kavanaugh refused to say that there is a so-called right to abortion. He declined to take the bait from pro-abortion Senator Dianne Feinstein who wants to get him to commit to upholding Roe v Wade once he is confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Kavanaugh also refused a pro-abortion senator’s request to promise to never overturn Roe v Wade, the high court case allowing abortions up to birth.
Also during the hearings, a new document was released showing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is possibly open to overturning the infamous Roe v Wade decision that allows virtually unlimited abortions up to birth.
