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| Brett Kavanaugh fails to shake hands with Parkland victim's father – live | Brett Kavanaugh fails to shake hands with Parkland victim's father – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| After praising the Senate and the president, Kavanaugh moves into the meat of his opening statement. | |
| As a nominee to the Supreme Court, I understand the responsibility I bear. Some 30 years ago, Judge Anthony Kennedy sat in this seat. He became one of the most consequential Justices in American history. I served as his law clerk in 1993. To me, Justice Kennedy is a mentor, a friend, and a hero. As a Member of the Court, he was a model of civility and collegiality. He fiercely defended the independence of the Judiciary. And he was a champion of liberty. If you had to sum up Justice Kennedy’s entire career in one word … “liberty.” Justice Kennedy established a legacy of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. | |
| After nearly seven hours of listening silently to senators bicker, argue and opine, Kavanaugh will have a chance to respond. | |
| He is now under oath. | |
| Next up is Lisa Blatt, a lawyer who has argued 35 cases before the supreme court. She says she’s an unabashed liberal, she voted for Hillary Clinton, calls Ruth Bader Ginsburg her “hero” and wishes Democrat Dianne Feinstein – not Republican Chuck Grassley – was chairing the committee. | |
| And yet, she is before the committee urging Kavanaugh’s nomination. | |
| “I was raised to call it like I see it and I don’t see the choice before you as difficult,” Blatt said. | |
| She is testifying to his advocacy for women, an attempt to blunt the criticism that his confirmation would be a threat to reproductive rights and women’s health. | |
| Kavanaugh is the “best choice” for liberals given the current political circumstances, she argued. | |
| Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, is now testifying to Kavanaugh’s character and judicial record. He calls him a “thought leader among his peers” and says there is “no one more qualified”. | |
| Kavanaugh is guided by the “constitution and rule of law”, Portman says, and he believes that justices shouldn’t “legislate from the bench”. | |
| “I know the man, he does things because it’s the right thing to do,” Portman says. As evidence, he told the senators that after meeting in his senate office, Kavanaugh went to serve the homeless later that evening. He didn’t tell Portman that’s where he was headed and the senator only found out after someone asked for a photo and tweeted it. | |
| Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, who worked alongside Kavanaugh in the Bush White House, said the judge was “supportive and strong and caring” and that she valued his “integrity and good judgement”. | |
| Like Harris, Rice invokes the nation’s history of segregation and the important role the Supreme Court has played in moving the nation forward. She says Kavanaugh would “thoroughly and faithfully” upholding the constitution. | |
| Grassley announces a short 15 minute to set up for the next stage of the hearing. Three people will introduce Kavanugh before he’s given a chance to make his opening remarks. | Grassley announces a short 15 minute to set up for the next stage of the hearing. Three people will introduce Kavanugh before he’s given a chance to make his opening remarks. |
| Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat of California and a possible 2020 contender, is unsparring in her remarks. | Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat of California and a possible 2020 contender, is unsparring in her remarks. |
| Harris said nominating someone to the Supreme Court is “personal” because “when we talk about our nations highest court and the men and women who sit on it, we’re talking about the impact that one individual on that court can have”. | Harris said nominating someone to the Supreme Court is “personal” because “when we talk about our nations highest court and the men and women who sit on it, we’re talking about the impact that one individual on that court can have”. |
| She continued: “I am concerned your loyalty would be to the president who appointed you and not to the constitution.” | She continued: “I am concerned your loyalty would be to the president who appointed you and not to the constitution.” |
| Harris announced her opposition to Kavanaugh in early July. | Harris announced her opposition to Kavanaugh in early July. |
| The first-term senator has distinguished herself on the committee for her aggressive approach to questioning the president’s cabinet and judicial nominees. But her prosecutorial style has drawn criticism from Republicans, who have accused her of grandstanding. | The first-term senator has distinguished herself on the committee for her aggressive approach to questioning the president’s cabinet and judicial nominees. But her prosecutorial style has drawn criticism from Republicans, who have accused her of grandstanding. |
| After nearly six hours, the committee is reaching the end of the senator’s opening statements. When they finish, Kavanaugh is scheduled to be introduced by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, senator Rob Portman, a Republican of Ohio, and Lisa Blatt, a self-described “liberal feminist lawyer” who has argued nearly three dozen cases before the Supreme Court. | After nearly six hours, the committee is reaching the end of the senator’s opening statements. When they finish, Kavanaugh is scheduled to be introduced by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, senator Rob Portman, a Republican of Ohio, and Lisa Blatt, a self-described “liberal feminist lawyer” who has argued nearly three dozen cases before the Supreme Court. |
| Sen. Grassley draws laughs from the crowd as he attempts to get Sen. Booker to wrap up as he blows through the 10-minute time limit during his opening remarks. Booker says he’s a “trailblazer” as extends it for a few more minutes. | Sen. Grassley draws laughs from the crowd as he attempts to get Sen. Booker to wrap up as he blows through the 10-minute time limit during his opening remarks. Booker says he’s a “trailblazer” as extends it for a few more minutes. |
| Actress Piper Perabo was among the dozens of protesters arrested during the Kavanaugh hearing. She is best known for her roles as CIA agent Annie Walker in the drama Covert Affairs and as the lead in the romantic musical Coyote Ugly. | Actress Piper Perabo was among the dozens of protesters arrested during the Kavanaugh hearing. She is best known for her roles as CIA agent Annie Walker in the drama Covert Affairs and as the lead in the romantic musical Coyote Ugly. |
| I was just arrested for civil disobedience in the Kavanaugh hearings.Many citizens before me have fought for the equal rights of women. I can’t be silent when someone is nominated to the Supreme Court who would take our equal rights away.#StopKavanaghpic.twitter.com/f3SG7gmVam | I was just arrested for civil disobedience in the Kavanaugh hearings.Many citizens before me have fought for the equal rights of women. I can’t be silent when someone is nominated to the Supreme Court who would take our equal rights away.#StopKavanaghpic.twitter.com/f3SG7gmVam |
| Here’s a better look at the photo that may come to define this hearing. | Here’s a better look at the photo that may come to define this hearing. |
| Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed last year in a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left, attempts to shake hands with supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, right, as he leaves for a lunch break. | Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed last year in a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left, attempts to shake hands with supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, right, as he leaves for a lunch break. |
| Some background on the gun politics at play over Kavanaugh’s nomination from The Guardian’s Lois Beckett. | Some background on the gun politics at play over Kavanaugh’s nomination from The Guardian’s Lois Beckett. |
| In August, the @NRA touted that they were launching "a seven-figure national and regional advertising campaign" to support Kavanaugh's confirmation. The @NRA ad is here: https://t.co/nNgFsaB78g | In August, the @NRA touted that they were launching "a seven-figure national and regional advertising campaign" to support Kavanaugh's confirmation. The @NRA ad is here: https://t.co/nNgFsaB78g |
| The White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah has responded Guttenberg’s tweet. Shah says that security “intervened” before Kavanaugh was able to shake his hand. | The White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah has responded Guttenberg’s tweet. Shah says that security “intervened” before Kavanaugh was able to shake his hand. |
| NEW VIDEO of hearing room clearly shows security intervened when Judge #Kavanaugh was approached. pic.twitter.com/ZGRRCcWroW | NEW VIDEO of hearing room clearly shows security intervened when Judge #Kavanaugh was approached. pic.twitter.com/ZGRRCcWroW |
| Shah claims that video of the exchange affirms the White House account that security intervened before Kavanaugh could shake Guttenberg’s hand. | Shah claims that video of the exchange affirms the White House account that security intervened before Kavanaugh could shake Guttenberg’s hand. |
| Watch for yourself: | Watch for yourself: |
| Wow, here you can hear @fred_guttenberg telling Kavanaugh that his daughter "was murdered in Parkland," and Kavanaugh whirls and walks away pic.twitter.com/VdkTij2Vdp | Wow, here you can hear @fred_guttenberg telling Kavanaugh that his daughter "was murdered in Parkland," and Kavanaugh whirls and walks away pic.twitter.com/VdkTij2Vdp |
| Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake is the first Republican to suggest he may have some hard questions in store for Kavanaugh on where he stands regarding executive authority. | Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake is the first Republican to suggest he may have some hard questions in store for Kavanaugh on where he stands regarding executive authority. |
| The Arizona senator, who is retiring at the end of his term, said concerns over Kavanaugh’s nomination stem from the fact that the White House “doesn’t seem to understand and appreciate separation of powers and the rule of law”. | The Arizona senator, who is retiring at the end of his term, said concerns over Kavanaugh’s nomination stem from the fact that the White House “doesn’t seem to understand and appreciate separation of powers and the rule of law”. |
| “I have that concern as well,” he says. | “I have that concern as well,” he says. |
| GOP Sen. Jeff Flake says he shares Democrats’ concern over Trump’s Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh that stems from an “administration that doesn’t seem to understand and appreciate separation of powers and the rule of law” pic.twitter.com/v5skPdL282 | GOP Sen. Jeff Flake says he shares Democrats’ concern over Trump’s Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh that stems from an “administration that doesn’t seem to understand and appreciate separation of powers and the rule of law” pic.twitter.com/v5skPdL282 |
| Flake pointed to Trump’s tweet yesterday in which the president attacked the Justice Department for bringing charges against two Republican congressman. Flake said he plans to ask “a number of questions” on the subject of executive authority. | Flake pointed to Trump’s tweet yesterday in which the president attacked the Justice Department for bringing charges against two Republican congressman. Flake said he plans to ask “a number of questions” on the subject of executive authority. |
| Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff...... | Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff...... |
| Flake also noted Kavanaugh ran the Boston Marathon twice. “I’m not sure what that says about your soundness of mind,” he teases. | Flake also noted Kavanaugh ran the Boston Marathon twice. “I’m not sure what that says about your soundness of mind,” he teases. |
| Associated Press photographer Andrew Harnik has captured the moment when Kavanaugh refused to shake Guttenberg’s hand. | Associated Press photographer Andrew Harnik has captured the moment when Kavanaugh refused to shake Guttenberg’s hand. |
| Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, tries to shake hands with @realDonaldTrump's Supreme Court nom., Brett Kavanaugh, right, during a lunch break. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) @ap pic.twitter.com/smcCGuLT6X | Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, tries to shake hands with @realDonaldTrump's Supreme Court nom., Brett Kavanaugh, right, during a lunch break. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) @ap pic.twitter.com/smcCGuLT6X |
| There has been some buzz over Sen. Sasse’s use of the word “hysteria” to accuse pro-abortion activists of crying wolf over the potential threat a conservative supreme court nominee could pose to Roe v Wade. | There has been some buzz over Sen. Sasse’s use of the word “hysteria” to accuse pro-abortion activists of crying wolf over the potential threat a conservative supreme court nominee could pose to Roe v Wade. |
| "Hysteria is undoubtedly the first mental disorder attributable to women, accurately described in the second millennium BC, and until Freud considered an exclusively female disease." https://t.co/Mkdrknkgob | "Hysteria is undoubtedly the first mental disorder attributable to women, accurately described in the second millennium BC, and until Freud considered an exclusively female disease." https://t.co/Mkdrknkgob |
| Fred Guttenberg, the father of Parkland shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg who is attending the hearing, said he attempted to introduce himself to Kavanaugh. | Fred Guttenberg, the father of Parkland shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg who is attending the hearing, said he attempted to introduce himself to Kavanaugh. |
| Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence. | Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence. |
| That face says it all... | That face says it all... |
| Pic of the day, via @drewangerer pic.twitter.com/FMmvdkpMKj | Pic of the day, via @drewangerer pic.twitter.com/FMmvdkpMKj |
| A moment of levity as Sen. Ben Sasse congratulates Sen. Amy Klobuchar on her remarks, which made reference to Hamilton, James Madison and the Magna Carta, among others judicial minds and documents. | A moment of levity as Sen. Ben Sasse congratulates Sen. Amy Klobuchar on her remarks, which made reference to Hamilton, James Madison and the Magna Carta, among others judicial minds and documents. |