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| Brett Kavanaugh supreme court hearing: chairman denies Democrat motion to delay proceedings – live | Brett Kavanaugh supreme court hearing: chairman denies Democrat motion to delay proceedings – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Feinstein introduces some of the notable attendees. Among them are cancer survivors, LGBTQ rights activists, reproductive rights activists, Fred Guttenberg, father of Parkland shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg, civil rights leader Al Sharpton. | |
| Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican of Utah, says he knows a good nominee when he sees one. After all, he says, he’s been a part of 15 confirmation hearings and seen the appointments of every member of the eight justices currently on the court. | |
| He accuses Democrats of “turning the volume up to 11” to convince the American public that Kavanaugh is the “four horseman of the apocalypse”. | |
| But as his remarks are interrupted by multiple protesters, he becomes irritated and asks the chairman to stop the outbursts. “These people are so out of line they shouldn’t even be allowed in the doggone room,” he says. | |
| Outside of the hearing room, protesters continue to chant “stop Kavanaugh”. They yell louder every time the door is open, drowning out the senator’s remarks. | |
| “I’m sorry you’re going to have to go through some of this nonsense that’s coming your way,” Hatch says. | |
| Sen. Dianne Feinstein raises several protections and rights that she is worried Kavanaugh will roll back, including access to abortion, gun control, among other issues. | |
| You’re being nominated for a pivotal seat. It would likely be the deciding vote on fundamental issues. ... | |
| Behind the noise is really a very sincere believe that it is so important to preserve a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-economic a court that really serves the people and really serves this great democracy. That’s my worry. | |
| A spokeswoman for the Capitol Police said that as of 10:19am EST, 22 individuals have been arrested so far this morning. They have been charged with disorderly conduct. | |
| At least half a dozen more protesters were removed from the hearing room since then. Police say they will update the count at the end of the day. | |
| Meanwhile, the White House is apparently tallying the number of times Democrats have interrupted the hearing. | |
| The White House is tallying interruptions during Kavanaugh’s hearing pic.twitter.com/ppiu0x5yyR | |
| In his remarks, Grassley calls Kavanaugh “one of the most qualified if not the most qualified nominee that I’ve seen” and “the kind of judge Americans want on the Supreme Court”. | |
| He urges the judge to follow the precedent set by his predecessors and not provide explicit answers on how he might rule from the bench. Quoting justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the court’s liberal lion, Grassley advises Kavanugh to offer “no hints, no forecasts, no previews” of how he’d rule. | |
| Grassley’s opening statement is drowned out in the room by a series of protesters. The Iowa Republican doesn’t stop reading from his remarks. | Grassley’s opening statement is drowned out in the room by a series of protesters. The Iowa Republican doesn’t stop reading from his remarks. |
| “Kavanaugh is a threat to this democracy,” one man said. “We already went through this in the 80s,” another woman shouted. | “Kavanaugh is a threat to this democracy,” one man said. “We already went through this in the 80s,” another woman shouted. |
| From the perch of this reporter, it’s impossible to see Kavanaugh’s face as the Democrats and Republicans argue. But here’s a look at what senators see. | From the perch of this reporter, it’s impossible to see Kavanaugh’s face as the Democrats and Republicans argue. But here’s a look at what senators see. |
| Brett Kavanaugh through the entirety of his hearing so far. pic.twitter.com/hL06WLcfw4 | Brett Kavanaugh through the entirety of his hearing so far. pic.twitter.com/hL06WLcfw4 |
| Here’s a little background on those “confidential documents” they keep referencing. | Here’s a little background on those “confidential documents” they keep referencing. |
| CONFIDENTIAL DOCS:- So far Grassley's office says only one Democrat has requested permission to talk about 4 documents. - That's Klobuchar. Her request totals 12 pages, says Grassley's office. | CONFIDENTIAL DOCS:- So far Grassley's office says only one Democrat has requested permission to talk about 4 documents. - That's Klobuchar. Her request totals 12 pages, says Grassley's office. |
| Buckle in. The hearing began over one hour ago and no one has yet to give their opening statements. | Buckle in. The hearing began over one hour ago and no one has yet to give their opening statements. |
| We’re expecting opening statements from all the senators and Kavanaugh himself. | We’re expecting opening statements from all the senators and Kavanaugh himself. |
| Senator Cornyn says he’s never seen a supreme court confirmation hearing overtaken by “mob rule.” The crowd titters at the comment. | Senator Cornyn says he’s never seen a supreme court confirmation hearing overtaken by “mob rule.” The crowd titters at the comment. |
| “At some point are we going to get to hear from the nominee?” asks senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana. Grassley said he had hoped to hear from him before 2.30pm but isn’t sure anymore. | “At some point are we going to get to hear from the nominee?” asks senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana. Grassley said he had hoped to hear from him before 2.30pm but isn’t sure anymore. |
| Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley says there is "absolutely no reason" to delay Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing pic.twitter.com/lUHnxtU3HE | Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley says there is "absolutely no reason" to delay Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing pic.twitter.com/lUHnxtU3HE |
| Blumenthal’s request for a vote to delay the hearing is dismissed as “out of order” by the chairman. Blumenthal says that if his motion is ignored and the hearing goes ahead, “this process will be tainted and stained forever.” | Blumenthal’s request for a vote to delay the hearing is dismissed as “out of order” by the chairman. Blumenthal says that if his motion is ignored and the hearing goes ahead, “this process will be tainted and stained forever.” |
| “Motion is denied,” Grassley said. | “Motion is denied,” Grassley said. |
| Democrats are arguing that they received “a 40,000 page document dump” on Monday night and have not had a chance to review them yet. | Democrats are arguing that they received “a 40,000 page document dump” on Monday night and have not had a chance to review them yet. |
| Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, interjects to say that they would have to have read 7,000 pages an hour to finish the documents before today’s hearing. | Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, interjects to say that they would have to have read 7,000 pages an hour to finish the documents before today’s hearing. |
| Senator John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican, said if the hearing were a courtroom his Democratic colleagues would be held in “contempt of court” for their lack of “civility”. The crowd boos. | Senator John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican, said if the hearing were a courtroom his Democratic colleagues would be held in “contempt of court” for their lack of “civility”. The crowd boos. |
| The chairman says, drawing a light chuckle, that the reason he’s displaying such patiences is because he plans to keep the hearings going throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes to ultimately confirm Kavanaugh. | The chairman says, drawing a light chuckle, that the reason he’s displaying such patiences is because he plans to keep the hearings going throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes to ultimately confirm Kavanaugh. |
| As such he says he’ll accomodate Democrats objections and requests: “It takes longer to argue why you shouldn’t do anything than to just let people argue. We’re going to be in session Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday... However long they’re going to take. If people have got something to say this chairman’s going to let them say it.” | As such he says he’ll accomodate Democrats objections and requests: “It takes longer to argue why you shouldn’t do anything than to just let people argue. We’re going to be in session Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday... However long they’re going to take. If people have got something to say this chairman’s going to let them say it.” |
| Some perspective on this morning’s raucous start | Some perspective on this morning’s raucous start |
| I’ve covered five other Supreme Court confirmation hearings. None of them included anything like the chaos in the opening minutes of the Kavanaugh hearings this morning. | I’ve covered five other Supreme Court confirmation hearings. None of them included anything like the chaos in the opening minutes of the Kavanaugh hearings this morning. |
| Kavanaugh is here with his wife, Ashley, his two daughters, Margaret and Eliza, his parents and extended family. He is now being given an opportunity to introduce himself and his family. | Kavanaugh is here with his wife, Ashley, his two daughters, Margaret and Eliza, his parents and extended family. He is now being given an opportunity to introduce himself and his family. |
| Here’s Kavanaugh arriving in the hearing room earlier this morning: | Here’s Kavanaugh arriving in the hearing room earlier this morning: |
| Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has arrived for his first day of confirmation hearings before the Senate. https://t.co/zM9mcuhYvSWatch it live: https://t.co/om79ODyWih pic.twitter.com/A0KWBj7qwv | Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has arrived for his first day of confirmation hearings before the Senate. https://t.co/zM9mcuhYvSWatch it live: https://t.co/om79ODyWih pic.twitter.com/A0KWBj7qwv |
| This hearing is off to a turbulent start. | This hearing is off to a turbulent start. |
| Democrats interrupted Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican of Iowa, the moment he started his opening statement. They’re demanding a delay in the hearing until more documents are released and there is more time to review the documents that have been released. | Democrats interrupted Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican of Iowa, the moment he started his opening statement. They’re demanding a delay in the hearing until more documents are released and there is more time to review the documents that have been released. |
| The first request came from Senator Kamala Harris, a Democrat of California. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat of Connecticut, then asked for the meeting to be postponed. The small gallery of observers erupted in applause. And then several women began shouting “Vote no on Kavanaugh”. | The first request came from Senator Kamala Harris, a Democrat of California. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat of Connecticut, then asked for the meeting to be postponed. The small gallery of observers erupted in applause. And then several women began shouting “Vote no on Kavanaugh”. |
| One woman shouted as she was removed from the hearing: “If you vote for Brett Kavanaugh we will replace you.” Another shouted: “My daughter deserves the right to choose.” | One woman shouted as she was removed from the hearing: “If you vote for Brett Kavanaugh we will replace you.” Another shouted: “My daughter deserves the right to choose.” |
| Meanwhile, Democrats and Grassley continue to go back and forth. | Meanwhile, Democrats and Grassley continue to go back and forth. |
| Another outcry: "If you vote for Brett Kavanaugh we will replace you."Democrats meanwhile are trying to get the hearing postponed. https://t.co/w4C1C5Q2C7 | Another outcry: "If you vote for Brett Kavanaugh we will replace you."Democrats meanwhile are trying to get the hearing postponed. https://t.co/w4C1C5Q2C7 |
| Opponents of Kavanaugh protested his nomination outside the Hart office building where he is set to testify on Tuesday morning. Some protesters wore red robes and white caps which are worn by the handmaids in Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel. | Opponents of Kavanaugh protested his nomination outside the Hart office building where he is set to testify on Tuesday morning. Some protesters wore red robes and white caps which are worn by the handmaids in Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel. |
| Though they remain silent, their message is clear: Kavanaugh’s nomination will roll back women’s rights | Though they remain silent, their message is clear: Kavanaugh’s nomination will roll back women’s rights |
| Protesters wearing Handmaids Tale robes outside of the Supreme Court confirmation Heading for Brett Kavanaugh this morning pic.twitter.com/ZAKajK3Dy7 | Protesters wearing Handmaids Tale robes outside of the Supreme Court confirmation Heading for Brett Kavanaugh this morning pic.twitter.com/ZAKajK3Dy7 |
| Ahead of the hearing, Democratic members of the Senate judiciary committee held a press conference railing against what they called a “historically secretive and opaque” vetting process. They blamed Senate Republicans and the Trump administration for “hiding” millions of documents related to Kavanaugh’s work in the Bush White House and warned that his confirmation would pose a threat to key protections and rights. | Ahead of the hearing, Democratic members of the Senate judiciary committee held a press conference railing against what they called a “historically secretive and opaque” vetting process. They blamed Senate Republicans and the Trump administration for “hiding” millions of documents related to Kavanaugh’s work in the Bush White House and warned that his confirmation would pose a threat to key protections and rights. |
| Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Senate Democrat on the committee, said: | Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Senate Democrat on the committee, said: |
| This morning, the Senate is going to hold hearings on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States supreme court. He’s being nominated to a seat that’s pivotal, that will be the deciding vote on some of the most important issues of our day. So the Democratic caucus has gathered here today to essentially state a silent protest. We will attend the meetings, we will question assiduously, but we want to express our concerns. I’ve had 9 supreme court hearings. Pat Leahy has had more than I. But I’ve never had a hearing like this where documents are so difficult to get. When Justice Scalia died, Republicans refused to even meet with President Obama’s nominee, and they held the seat open for the entire year. Now with a Republican in the White House they’ve changed their position. The majority rushed into their hearing, and is refusing to even look at the nominee’s full record. 93% of the records from Kavanaugh’s tenure in the White House as counsel and staff secretary have not been provided to the Senate and 96% are hidden from the public. And now for the first time ever, we’ve been told the White House is withholding over 100,000 pages from Kavanaugh’s tenure in the White House counsel’s office with no explanation of what the topics are and no formal claim of executive privilege. And last night 42,000 documents were sent over. Obviously no one has been able to look at them yet. Judiciary Democrats are sending a letter to White House counsel demanding these documents be immediately turned over to the Senate. | This morning, the Senate is going to hold hearings on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States supreme court. He’s being nominated to a seat that’s pivotal, that will be the deciding vote on some of the most important issues of our day. So the Democratic caucus has gathered here today to essentially state a silent protest. We will attend the meetings, we will question assiduously, but we want to express our concerns. I’ve had 9 supreme court hearings. Pat Leahy has had more than I. But I’ve never had a hearing like this where documents are so difficult to get. When Justice Scalia died, Republicans refused to even meet with President Obama’s nominee, and they held the seat open for the entire year. Now with a Republican in the White House they’ve changed their position. The majority rushed into their hearing, and is refusing to even look at the nominee’s full record. 93% of the records from Kavanaugh’s tenure in the White House as counsel and staff secretary have not been provided to the Senate and 96% are hidden from the public. And now for the first time ever, we’ve been told the White House is withholding over 100,000 pages from Kavanaugh’s tenure in the White House counsel’s office with no explanation of what the topics are and no formal claim of executive privilege. And last night 42,000 documents were sent over. Obviously no one has been able to look at them yet. Judiciary Democrats are sending a letter to White House counsel demanding these documents be immediately turned over to the Senate. |
| As you know, executive privilege has never before been invoked to block the release of presidential records to the Senate during a supreme court nomination. In fact when Elena Kagan was nominated President Obama announced he would not invoke executive privilege over any of her White House records. When John Roberts was nominated, President Bush announced he would not invoke executive privilege over any of his White House records. And when Justice Rehnquist was nominated, the committee refused to go forward with hearings until the White House produced records over which it initially indicated it might claim privilege. By contrast the Trump White House is withholding thousands of pages of Brett Kavanaugh’s records from Congress and admits it’s doing so without actually asserting a legal privilege. | As you know, executive privilege has never before been invoked to block the release of presidential records to the Senate during a supreme court nomination. In fact when Elena Kagan was nominated President Obama announced he would not invoke executive privilege over any of her White House records. When John Roberts was nominated, President Bush announced he would not invoke executive privilege over any of his White House records. And when Justice Rehnquist was nominated, the committee refused to go forward with hearings until the White House produced records over which it initially indicated it might claim privilege. By contrast the Trump White House is withholding thousands of pages of Brett Kavanaugh’s records from Congress and admits it’s doing so without actually asserting a legal privilege. |
| The supreme court confirmation hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh begin on Tuesday. If confirmed, Kavanaugh, 53, would be the crowning achievement of a 30-year effort by conservatives to reshape the federal judiciary. The hearing is expected to last four days. | The supreme court confirmation hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh begin on Tuesday. If confirmed, Kavanaugh, 53, would be the crowning achievement of a 30-year effort by conservatives to reshape the federal judiciary. The hearing is expected to last four days. |
| We’ll take you live to Hart 216, the room where the members of the Senate judiciary committee will question the Republican stalwart whose confirmation would probably solidify a conservative majority on the nation’s highest court. | We’ll take you live to Hart 216, the room where the members of the Senate judiciary committee will question the Republican stalwart whose confirmation would probably solidify a conservative majority on the nation’s highest court. |
| The first day of hearings will include opening statements from the chair, Chuck Grassley, a Republican, and the ranking Democrat, Dianne Feinstein as well as the other senators and Kavanaugh himself. Questions are expected to begin on Wednesday, and votes in committee and on the Senate floor could occur later in September. | The first day of hearings will include opening statements from the chair, Chuck Grassley, a Republican, and the ranking Democrat, Dianne Feinstein as well as the other senators and Kavanaugh himself. Questions are expected to begin on Wednesday, and votes in committee and on the Senate floor could occur later in September. |
| Expect Kavanaugh’s opponents to pose sharp questions as they try to extract definitive answers from the nominee on issues such as abortion rights and executive authority. Democrats are already infuriated by the White House’s decision to withhold 100,000 documents related to the judge’s work in George W Bush’s administration. | Expect Kavanaugh’s opponents to pose sharp questions as they try to extract definitive answers from the nominee on issues such as abortion rights and executive authority. Democrats are already infuriated by the White House’s decision to withhold 100,000 documents related to the judge’s work in George W Bush’s administration. |
| Republicans will likely use their time to cast Kavanaugh as a supremely qualified and well-respected judge. It is unlikely they will present him with tough questions. | Republicans will likely use their time to cast Kavanaugh as a supremely qualified and well-respected judge. It is unlikely they will present him with tough questions. |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wants Kavanaugh confirmed before the court begins its new term on 1 October. | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wants Kavanaugh confirmed before the court begins its new term on 1 October. |