Judge Brett Kavanaugh (pictured above) told the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday that he “not be intimidated into withdrawing” as President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee by the “grotesque and obvious character assassination” launched against him by Democrats, left-wing activists, and liberal media talking heads.
“There is now a frenzy to come up with something — anything — that will block this process and a vote on my confirmation from occurring,” Kavanaugh wrote in a fiery letter made public late Monday. “These are smears, pure and simple. And they debase our public discourse.”
Kavanaugh vowed that “the coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed.”
Kavanaugh addressed the letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the committee.
The smears represent “a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country,” Kavanaugh said. “Such grotesque and obvious character assassination — if allowed to succeed — will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service.”
Trump nominated Kavanaugh July 9 to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. But the sexual assault allegations leveled against Kavanaugh were not revealed publicly until late in the 11th hour of his confirmation process.
Christine Blasey Ford, who initially wished to remain anonymous, publicly accused Kavanaugh September 16 of sexually assaulting her some 36 years ago at a high school party in suburban Maryland.
“I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process.”
Although Feinstein received Ford’s allegations in July, she did nothing with them publicly until September 14 when she said she had referred them to the FBI. The bureau declined to investigate what it said was a local law enforcement matter.
Kavanaugh denied Ford’s accusations “categorically and unequivocally,” insisting that he has “never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone.”
Kavanaugh’s confirmation experienced another setback late Sunday when former Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez accused him in an article for The New Yorker of exposing himself to her at a party in college.
The Senate panel’s will hear from Ford and then Kavanaugh Thursday.
“As I told the committee during my hearing, a federal judge must be independent, not swayed by public or political pressure. That is the kind of judge I will always be,” Kavanaugh added in his letter. “I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process.”
Trump continued to back Kavanaugh’s nomination Monday.
“I am with Judge Kavanaugh,” Trump said during a United Nations meeting in New York. “For people to come out of the woodwork from 36 years ago, and 30 years ago, and never mentioned it, all of a sudden it happened … totally political.”
Related: Hatch Says Dems’ ‘Partisan Games’ Demean Senate, Supreme Court
As GOP senators gear up to fight for Kavanaugh’s confirmation and Democrats call for delay, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) released a blistering statement Monday blasting Democrats’ “smear campaign” against the nominee with the newest allegations.
“Senate Democrats will stop at nothing to prevent Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation,” Hatch said. “No innuendo has been too low, no insinuation too dirty. Everything is an excuse for delay, no matter how unsubstantiated.”
Hatch added that “it should be clear now to all Americans that Democrats are engaged in a coordinated effort to stop Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation by any means possible.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also defended Kavanaugh Monday in a fiery string of tweets, writing, “When it comes to stopping Pres @realDonaldTrump and his agenda there seem to be no boundaries. Whether it’s coaching witnesses or reporting thinly-sourced stories without proper verification, everything is fair game and falls into the category of – ‘The Ends Justify the Means.'”
“What we are witnessing is the total collapse of the traditional confirmation process for a Supreme Court nominee,” Graham added. “It is being replaced by a game of delay, deception, and wholesale character assassination.”
What we are witnessing is the total collapse of the traditional confirmation process for a Supreme Court nominee.
It is being replaced by a game of delay, deception, and wholesale character assassination.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 24, 2018
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