Brett Kavanaugh should have been disqualified by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sexual assault accusations aside, his lies and temperament during his confirmation hearing should have disqualified him from a lifetime role as a Supreme Court Justice.
Despite previous opposition from President Donald Trump and his administration, it was finally decided that the FBI would investigate Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s claims against Kavanaugh after Sen. Jeff Flake insisted the allegations be investigated before voting. The FBI investigation ended on Thursday, Oct 4.
A brief careless investigation failed to acknowledge several key witnesses. One of these witnesses, according to Vice, is Elizabeth Rosen, an ex-girlfriend of Kavanaugh’s high school friend Mark Judge. According to Rosen, Judge told her about an event where he and other boys had sex with a drunk woman.
Another witness, a Yale University alumnus, told two New Yorker reporters that he had been trying to meet with a bureau officer to share information that could corroborate accuser Deborah Ramirez’s claim that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her. The FBI also neglected to contact Blasey Ford.
In The New York Times’ “The Daily” podcast episode “Kavanaugh’s Classmates Speak Out,” New York Times reporter and one of Kavanaugh’s Yale classmates, Robin Pogrebin, revealed several witnesses she was speaking with were “losing faith” that the FBI would contact them. Some had reached out to the FBI through local senate offices or the FBI hotline without success. As of Saturday Oct 6, Kavanaugh was confirmed as the newest Supreme Court Justice without a thorough investigation.
Kavanaugh also lied to portray a straight-laced image. During a Fox news exclusive, he characterized himself as a wholesome church-going Christian who never or rarely went to parties and never over-imbibed. This image was disputed by both high school and Yale classmates of Kavanaugh’s who came forward. Kavanaugh’s high school classmates and acquaintances presented information revealing his reputation for partying. Pogrebin received documents from one of Kavanaugh’s high school classmates stating that Kavanaugh frequently disrespected women. These documents led to phone calls which led to a name: Renate Schroeder Dolphin. Kavanaugh and other boys allegedly had multiple sexual encounters with her and branded themselves “Renate Alumnius” in their senior year books to commemorate their “conquests.” According to his Yale classmates, Kavanaugh was a hard partier and was often seen “holding up the walls” at parties – meaning he would get so drunk, he would have to “hold up the walls” to remain upright. His fraternity, DKE, was infamous for over-drinking and misogyny.
Additionally, Kavanaugh lied throughout his confirmation hearing about his drinking habits. Both a roommate and a friend said they observed Kavanaugh sloppy drunk on multiple occasions. Kavanaugh also claimed he “never attended a gathering” like what Blasey Ford described and that he didn’t know her. These claims were proven false by the calendars Kavanaugh submitted in his defense.
Even if the accusations against Kavanaugh are proven false, his lies, deflections and emotional outbursts while under oath should have disqualified him completely from being a Supreme Court Judge. More than 2,400 law professors have signed a letter opposing his confirmation, which was published in The New York Times on Oct. 3. Friends, classmates and acquaintances of Kavanaugh reinforced that he lied while under oath and The National Council of Churches called for his withdrawal. However, Republicans remained confident in his appointment. According to The New York Times, the White House concluded that interviews with the FBI did not corroborate sexual misconduct allegations. Amid protests and public outcry, the senate confirmed his new position on Saturday.
The Trump administration was eager to add another conservative justice to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy was a major swing vote while on the court, supporting both liberal and conservative ideals. A conservative majority court can potentially stifle progress with social issues.
The FBI investigation was a sham, a show put on to appease the public and Democrats. Kavanaugh deflecting and attempting to cover up his past should make citizens wary of who he is. President Trump and many Republicans proved their desire for power by appointing an unfit candidate. Kavanaugh is thoroughly unfit to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and should have been disqualified.
