Read Brett Kavanaugh’s Defiant Statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee
On Thursday, the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, at times choking back tears, delivered a fiery opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, denying the sexual-assault allegations against him and calling the confirmation process a “national disgrace.” On the eve of the hearing, the panel released Kavanaugh’s written testimony. Thursday’s statement diverted from those remarks.
Below, Kavanaugh’s opening statement, as delivered.
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Feinstein, members of the committee, thank you for allowing me to make my statement. I wrote it myself yesterday afternoon and evening. No one has seen a draft, or it, except for one of my former law clerks. This is my statement.
Less than two weeks ago, Dr. Ford publicly accused me of committing wrongdoing at an event more than 36 years ago when we were both in high school. I denied the allegation immediately, categorically, and unequivocally. All four people allegedly at the event, including Dr. Ford’s longtime friend Ms. Keyser, have said they recall no such event. Her longtime friend Ms. Keyser said under penalty of felony that she does not know me and does not believe she ever saw me at a party, ever. Here is the quote from Ms. Keyser’s attorney’s letter: “Simply put, Ms. Keyser does not know Mr. Kavanaugh and she has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present with or without Dr. Ford.” Think about that fact. The day after the allegation appeared, I told this committee that I wanted a hearing as soon as possible to clear my name. I demanded a hearing for the very next day. Unfortunately, it took the committee 10 days to get to this hearing. In those 10 long days, as was predictable and as I predicted, my family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations. The 10-day delay has been harmful to me and my family, to the Supreme Court, and to the country.
When this allegation first arose, I welcomed any kind of investigation—Senate, FBI, or otherwise. The committee now has conducted a thorough investigation, and I’ve cooperated fully. I know that any kind of investigation—Senate, FBI, Montgomery County Police, whatever—will clear me. Listen to the people I know. Listen to the people who have known me my whole life. Listen to the people I’ve grown up with and worked with and played with and coached with and dated and taught and gone to games with and had beers with. And listen to the witnesses who allegedly were at this event 36 years ago. Listen to Ms. Keyser. She does not know me. I was not at the party described by Dr. Ford.
This confirmation process has become a national disgrace. The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process. But you have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy. Since my nomination in July, there has been a frenzy on the left to come up with something, anything, to block my confirmation. Shortly after I was nominated, the Democratic Senate leader said he would, quote, “oppose me with everything he’s got.” A Democratic senator
