“Illegitimacy and Cynicism” Surround Kavanaugh Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 4, 2018 – Following the first day of the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron released the following statement:

“Today we heard Brett Kavanaugh offer typical assurances that if confirmed to the Supreme Court, he’ll be a neutral arbiter deciding cases. But bland and rehearsed statements from this nominee, touching on all the Republican talking points, cannot erase what we know from his record: that he would be a vote on the Supreme Court to destroy access to health care, including care for millions with preexisting conditions; and that he would gut women’s reproductive rights. Kavanaugh’s views of presidential power are also deeply disturbing; as Senator Booker said, Kavanaugh — with his stated opposition to investigating sitting presidents — was a late addition to the Supreme Court short list as President Trump’s legal troubles mounted. Sitting in the hearing room, I was also struck by the forcefulness of those Senators who made a strong case to halt this process because the vast majority of Kavanaugh’s records have been withheld from review.  The Chairman’s refusal to respond to these legitimate concerns only adds to the air of illegitimacy and cynicism surrounding this nomination process, and raises more questions about what’s being hidden.  The American people deserve so much better than this administration and Senate GOP leadership are giving them.”