While testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh defended himself against unsubstantiated allegations of sexual assault.
“This confirmation process has become a national disgrace,” Kavanaugh said. “The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process, but you have replaced ‘advise and consent’ with ‘search and destroy.'”
“Since my nomination in July there’s been a frenzy on the left to come up with something, anything to block my confirmation,” he said. “Shortly after I was nominated the Democratic Senate leader said he would, quote, ‘oppose me with everything he’s got.’ A Democratic senator on this committee publicly referred to me as ‘evil’ — evil, think about that word — and said that those who supported me were, quote, ‘complicit in evil.'”
“I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process,” Kavanaugh said. “You’ve tried hard. You’ve given it your all. No one can question your efforts. Your coordinated and well-funded effort to destroy my good name and destroy my family will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. You may defeat me in the final vote, but you’ll never get me to quit. Never.”
In a particularly emotional moment, Kavanaugh described his daughter requesting that their family pray for Christine Blasey Ford — the woman alleging her father sexually assaulted her 36 years ago.
“I am innocent of this charge,” he said. “I intend no ill will to Dr. Ford and her family. The other night [my wife] Ashley and my daughter Liza said their prayers. And little Liza, all of 10 years old, said to Ashley: ‘We should pray for the woman.’ A lot of wisdom from a 10-year-old.”
