Will Brett Kavanaugh reach the Supreme Court? Some recent comments by President Donald Trump have rattled at least one key Republican. This comes at a time when Senate Republicans have only a narrow margin and will need to muster nearly all of their support if they hope to push Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination through.
So far, most Republicans have been hinting at support for Kavanaugh. However, the nominee’s poor performance during a Senate inquiry into allegations over sexual assault has some Senators questioning their stance and calling for further investigations.
Now, President Trump’s confrontational style may upset even more Senators, potentially costing precious votes. At a campaign rally in Southaven Mississippi, President Trump put accuser Christine Blasey Ford on blast, urging people to “think of your son.” He went on to further question Ford, mocking her testimony: “How did you get home? I don’t remember. How’d you get there? I don’t remember. Where is the place? I don’t remember. How many years ago was it? I don’t know.”
Already, the comments have created a backlash and it’s not just Democrats who are upset. Jeff Flake, the outgoing Republican Senator from Arizona, had already held up the confirmation vote, demanding an FBI investigation first. Now, Flake is pressing back against Trump’s remarks, stating: “There’s no time and no place for remarks like that. To discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right. It’s just not right. I wish he hadn’t had done it.”
Even for President Trump, the comments mark a harsh reversal. Just days ago, Trump was praising Ford as a “good witness” while also stating “I respect her position very much.” With Kavanaugh’s confirmation facing increasing headwinds, however, the president has begun to lash out.
As of now, Republicans hold a narrow 51-49 margin in the Senate. Many believe that Democrat Joe Manchin from West Virginia could also vote to confirm Kavanaugh. Pence could cast a tie-breaking vote in the event of a 50-50 vote as well. Still, Republicans have an exceptionally narrow margin and there’s no guarantee that things will improve come the November mid-terms.
If anything costs votes now, Kavanaugh’s confirmation could go down in flames.
Many Starting to Question Kavanaugh’s Alleged Perjury
No one is forgetting about the sexual abuse allegations. It’s a difficult situation, with the event having occurred many years ago and there being few witnesses outside of the parties allegedly involved. As of now, it’s largely a he said/she said situation. However, another angle is emerging: Some are upset that Kavanaugh appears to have lied during his testimony.
Among the allegations is the claim that Kavanaugh lied regarding how he learned about Deborah Ramirez’s sexual assault claim against him. Kavanaugh originally claimed that he learned through a New Yorker article. However, texts obtained by NBC have found that at least two of the nominee’s friends, Kerry Berchem and Karen Yarasavage, were in touch with him and that he was working to discredit her before the allegations became public.
Meanwhile, many others who knew Kavanaugh during college have disputed his claim that he never drank to the point of blacking out. Many of Kavanaugh’s former classmates are claiming that he was a hard drinker who’d grow aggressive after too many beers.
Most critics aren’t taking issue with the fact that Kavanaugh drank, mind you. Instead, they are wary that he may have lied about it. Some argue that this would constitute perjury and that misrepresenting circumstances under oath should, in and of itself, disqualify him.
Will Kavanaugh make it to the highest court? As each day goes by, the path seems to be narrowing. However, if Republicans circle their wagons, there’s little Democrats can do.
