‘Kavanaugh’s record reveals a jurist on the far end of the ideological spectrum – out of line with the views of a vast majority of Americans. And in line with the big money, special interests who hand-picked him for this seat.’
WASHINGTON – Today, on a press conference call for local New Mexico reporters, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) outlined his opposition to President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the United States Supreme Court. With President Trump and several of his senior campaign figures implicated in serious crimes, Udall demanded that Senate Republicans immediately halt proceedings on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.
Senate Republicans “are trying to force through a Supreme Court nomination from a president who has been implicated in serious crimes – who is under investigation for obstruction of justice, and for colluding with a foreign government to win a presidential election. In the span of one day, the president’s campaign chairman was convicted on eight counts. The president’s lawyer admitted – under oath – that Donald Trump directed him to violate campaign finance laws.”
“A president with possible felonies hanging over his head should not be permitted to select the next Supreme Court justice,” Udall said . “Not when that nominee could sit on cases relating to Special Counsel Mueller, or the president’s pardoning power. And not when that nominee has the record of Judge Kavanaugh – who has shown a clear and troubling belief that the president is above the law.”
“Beyond that, Judge Kavanaugh’s record reveals a jurist on the far end of the ideological spectrum – out of line with the views of a vast majority of Americans. And in line with the big money, special interests who hand-picked him for this seat,” Udall continued . “He will make this court an even greater ally of big corporations, of big polluters, of big, secret money in our elections, of the one percent – and against working New Mexicans.”
“He won’t stand up for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. He won’t stand up to protect New Mexico’s environment. He won’t stand up for the rule of law and the Constitution, and against unchecked presidential power,” Udall continued . “For all of those reasons, and more, I will oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.”
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Below are Udall’s remarks:
0:02 -- I’d like to start by saying a few words about John McCain. John was a true friend – to me, to my family, to the Southwest. New Mexico, the nation, and the world will miss John’s fierce independence. And his willingness to put his country ahead of his party. On so many issues, John bucked his party to try and do the right thing. On campaign finance reform. Immigration. And most recently, on health care. At this challenging time for our nation, we need to harness John’s fight. And his courage. To defend the ideals and the democracy that he cherished.
0:48 -- This week in Washington, our nation is facing a major test. Today, the Senate is beginning hearings on President Trump’s nominee to serve on the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Every Supreme Court nomination has profound implications for the future of our country. But this nomination is especially consequential - at this moment in our history, when so many of our fundamental values are being challenged.
1:18 -- Unfortunately, Senate Republicans are trying to rush and force this nominee through. They are trying to force through a Supreme Court nomination from a president who has been implicated in serious crimes. Who is under investigation for obstruction of justice, and for colluding with a foreign government to win a presidential election.
1:40 -- In the span of one day, the president’s campaign chairman was convicted on 8 counts. The president’s lawyer admitted – under oath – that Donald Trump directed him to violate campaign finance laws. A president with possible felonies hanging over his head should not be permitted to select the next Supreme Court justice. Not when that nominee could sit on cases relating to Special Counsel Mueller, or the president’s pardoning power. And not when that nominee has the record of Judge Kavanaugh – who has shown a clear and troubling belief that the president is above the law.
2:20 -- Beyond that, Judge Kavanaugh’s record reveals a jurist on the far end of the ideological spectrum – out of line with the views of a vast majority of Americans. And in line with the big money, special interests who hand-picked him for this seat. Judge Kavanaugh will take an already conservative court even further to the right.
2:40 -- He will make this court an even greater ally of big corporations. Of big polluters. Of big, secret money in our elections. Of the 1 percent – and against working New Mexicans. He won’t stand up for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. He won’t stand up to protect New Mexico’s environment. He won’t stand up for the rule of law and the Constitution, and against unchecked presidential power.
3:06 -- For all of those reasons, and more, I will oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination. And with the cloud of corruption hanging over this president and this administration, I am calling on Senate Republicans to immediately halt this nomination.’
3:27 -- Udall takes questions on Judge Kavanaugh, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), and election security.
