Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took to the floor this morning in an excoriating reprimand on part of the Democrat’s handling of the Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, which included an FBI investigation into accusations of sexual assault from 36 years ago.
“For a few weeks their tactics played out…gross distortions about Kavanaugh’s record,” McConnell said, charging that the left has used “apocalyptic announcements,” falsely accusing that the Supreme Court nominee is “hostile to women, hostile to vulnerable people, and hostile to workers.” T
he Kentucky Republican, however, alluded to the formation of a pattern on part of the Democratic agenda, determining the vicious attacks were from the “same ol’ play book.”
“Distortions drowned out the facts,” McConnell said, who was recently on the receiving end of a left-wing intimidation attack at an airport.
Judge Kavanaugh has been asked, both verbal and in writing, more questions than have ever been asked of a Supreme Court nominee in history, combined. As an author of 300 legal opinions during his decade on the D.C. Federal Court, Judge Kavanaugh had enough to substantiate his position in terms of ruling on high court cases.
But, McConnell said the “resistance demanded more.”
He said the Democrats then formulated “uncorroborated allegations of the most obscene, sensitive sort,” having Judge Kavanaugh and his family living through “hell” for the last three weeks, according to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Graham also called the way in which the process has been handled by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee a “sham.”
The Senate majority leader said he found there was “no corroborating evidence from the FBI, or anywhere else.”
“The facts were not the point after all, we get that now,” McConnell said.
“The Democrats moved the whole goalpost yet again,” he added.
For the senator, “[Democrats] harmed a good man and his family, tarnished the dignity of this institutions,” and “the Senate stands on the threshold of a golden opportunity…to a post that demands such excellence.”
“But, we have to opportunity to do more,” he added.
McConnell wants Republicans, and any Democrats who are willing to after this debacle of a bitterly divided confirmation hearing process to, “send a message to the American people…facts matter, fairness matters, the presumption of innocence is sacrosanct.”
“The Senate should look back on these things with “shame,” he said.
Afterwards, Senate Republicans had enough votes to advance the Kavanaugh confirmation, setting up a vote for Saturday.
Reportedly, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has confirmed that she will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court just 24 hours before the critical vote, still making Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) a wild card. Republicans can rely on Vice President Mike Pence to break a potential tie vote, with move being unprecedented.