Tuesday at Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing for Supreme Court associate justice, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) said she was “concerned” if Kavanaugh would treat every American equally “or instead show allegiance to the political party and the conservative agenda.”
Harris said, “When Judge Kavanaugh was nominated in July, he expressed his belief that a judge must be independent, must interpret the law and not make law. But in reviewing this nominee’s background I’m deeply concerned that what guides him is not independence or impartiality. It’s not even ideology. I would suggest it is not even ideology. What I believe guides him and what his record, that we’ve been able to see, shows is what guides this nominee is partisanship. This nominee has devoted his entire career to a conservative Republican agenda, helping to spearhead a partisan investigation into President Bill Clinton, into helping George W. Bush’s legal team ensure that every vote was not counted in Bush V. Gore. Helping to confirm partisan judges and enact partisan laws as part of the Bush White House. And in all of these efforts he’s shown that he seeks to win at all costs, even if that means pushing the envelope. And if we look at his record on the D.C. circuit and in his recent writings and statements, it is clear the nominee has brought his political bias to the bench. He’s carried out deeply conservative partisan agendas as a judge favoring big business over ordinary Americans, polluters over clean air and water, and the powerful over the vulnerable.”
She added, “Judge Kavanaugh, I’m concerned whether you would treat every American equally or instead show allegiance to the political party and the conservative agenda that has shaped and built your career. I’m concerned your loyalty is to the president who appointed you and not to the Constitution of the United States. These concerns, I hope you will answer during the course of this hearing. I believe the American people have a right to have these concerns. I also believe the American public has a right to full and candid answers to the questions presented to you during the course of this hearing. I will be paying, of course, very close attention to your testimony and I think you know the American public will be paying very close attention to your testimony.”
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