Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanugh’s hearings begin today at 9:15AM in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. More than likely Kavanaugh will face a lot of questions about abortion and executive power.
We will cover the hearings live every day.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Robert Portman (R-OH), and Supreme Court litigator Lisa Blatt (a liberal who once clerked for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg on the US Court of Appeals) will introduce Kavanaugh o he committee.
Fortune highlighted a few questions Kavanaugh will likely face:
Kavanaugh is likely to face questions about abortion, executive power, and sexual harassment. Given the Republicans’ narrow margin in the Senate, assuring the party’s two pro-choice members of his commitment to protect the abortion rights of Roe v. Wade will be essential to Kavanaugh’s confirmation. That pair, Sens. Susan Collins (R–Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska), could tip the 50-49 Republican majority against Kavanaugh.
The judge’s statements about protecting the executive from independent counsel prosecutors will likewise be scrutinized in light of the Mueller investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and its possible ramifications for Trump. Kavanaugh is on record questioning the ruling that required Nixon to turn over his White House recordings, and he’s talked of overturning protections for independent counsels.
Confirmation requires a simple majority, which Republicans have, 50 to 49. We’ll have to keep an eye on moderates Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska. However, Kavanaugh may receive some Democrat votes since 10 of them are up for re-election in November in states where Trump won in 2016: Senators Joe Donnelly (D–Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp (D–N.D.) and Joe Manchin (D–W.Va.).
Documents
The hearing has started and the Democrats have already demanded an adjournment. Sen. Cory Booker lashed out at the process and said it has not been transparent enough. Sen. Richard Blumenthal agreed.
.@SenBlumenthal calls to adjourn the Kavanaugh hearing.
“We have been denied real access to the documents we need…which turns this hearing into a charade and a mockery of our norms.” #StopKavanaugh #HaltTheHearing pic.twitter.com/jpJsr87Gls
— CAP Action (@CAPAction) September 4, 2018
BREAKING: Democrats interrupt Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing, calling for postponement until time is given for newly released documents to be reviewed pic.twitter.com/zAa1onp9Mi
— Axios (@axios) September 4, 2018
The Senate Judiciary nomination hearing for Brett Kavanaugh began minutes ago. Senator Harris was the first to object to moving forward with the hearing. This has not been the transparent process the American people deserve.
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) September 4, 2018
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Democratic members quickly lash out at Chairman Grassley at start of Kavanaugh confirmation hearing: Harris, Klobuchar and Blumenthal.
— Ed O’Keefe (@edokeefe) September 4, 2018
Here’s why @JudiciaryDems are asking to adjourn the hearing: 93% of the records from Kavanaugh’s tenure in the White House as counsel and staff secretary are being withheld from the Senate and 96% of the records are being withheld from the public. #WhatsAtStake
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) September 4, 2018
Abortion
Sen. Feinstein brings up abortion right away now that the committee can finally question Kavanaugh! She said that saying Roe v Wade is “settled law” is not enough and wants to know the answer whether it’s “correct law.”
.@SenFeinstein lays out why Kavanaugh saying Roe v. Wade is “settled law,” isn’t near enough – because he’s already shown he is “willing to disregard precedent” on women’s Constitutional rights. pic.twitter.com/fTDQbqH0Zu
— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) September 4, 2018
Sen. Dianne Feinstein to #Kavanaugh: “The president that nominated you has said ‘I will nominate someone who is anti-choice and pro-gun.’ And we believe what he said. We cannot find the documents that absolve from that conclusion.” pic.twitter.com/iziuzc2CxL
— Vox (@voxdotcom) September 4, 2018
Guns, NRA
Feinstein also mentions guns and the NRA in her opening statement.
.@SenFeinstein argues during her opening statement that Kavanaugh’s views on the 2nd amendment are “far outside the mainstream of legal thought” and “surpasses the views of Justice Scalia.”
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) September 4, 2018
Presidents and Criminal Investigations
Sen. Amy Klobuchar tells Kavanaugh that she will want to know where he stands when it comes to presidents and criminal investigation. She wants to know if he thinks the president is above the law and referenced his University of Minnesota law review article.
Here’s the 2009 Minnesota Law Review article Sen. Klobuchar is referring to when she asks Kavanaugh whether a president should never be subject to criminal investigations while in office: https://t.co/tbaeLl6flL
— Ann Marimow (@amarimow) September 4, 2018
Introductions and Kavanaugh Opening Statement
OVER SIX HOURS LATER……Rice, Portman, and Blatt will finally introduce Kavanaugh!
Rice promises the committee that Kavanaugh will uphold and cherish the Constitution.
Portman says he has known the Kavanaughs for years and spoke to President George W. Bush, who called the nominee a class act. Portman, like Rice, believes Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. He has been described as honest as fair during his time on the Court of Appeals.
Protests
Of course the hearing is almost immediately interrupted by protests. Looks like the anti-Semite Linda Sarsour led the charge.
BREAKING: Protesters arrested at Kavanaugh hearing #StopKavanaugh pic.twitter.com/cQs42LZa85
— Lilia #TheResistance (@LiliTrice) September 4, 2018
USCP arresting protesters interrupting Kavanaugh hearing pic.twitter.com/C0eqyFglx7
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 4, 2018
NOW: Waiting outside Kavanaugh hearing room. A silent but rather clear protest. (Re: abortion.) pic.twitter.com/VHku1dDEkS
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) September 4, 2018
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.