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Trump, Defending Kavanaugh, Accuses Senate Democrats of Hypocrisy and Dishonesty Trump, Defending Kavanaugh, Accuses Senate Democrats of Hypocrisy and Dishonesty
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — With his Supreme Court nominee’s confirmation under fire, President Trump lashed out on Monday at Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, renewing his attack that Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut lied about his service in Vietnam and embellishing the senator’s misdeeds far beyond the truth.WASHINGTON — With his Supreme Court nominee’s confirmation under fire, President Trump lashed out on Monday at Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, renewing his attack that Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut lied about his service in Vietnam and embellishing the senator’s misdeeds far beyond the truth.
Mr. Trump also blamed the leaking of Christine Blasey Ford’s confidential letter accusing Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of sexual assault on Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and assailed Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, for running Newark “into the ground” as mayor. Mr. Trump also blamed Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, for leaking Christine Blasey Ford’s confidential letter accusing Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of sexual assault, and assailed Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, for running Newark “into the ground” as mayor.
In remarks at a news conference ostensibly on trade Monday, Mr. Trump went on offense in defending Judge Kavanaugh, portraying the committee Democrats who have opposed his confirmation as hypocritical and dishonest. His primary example: Mr. Blumenthal, one of his favorite foils, who has admitted being misleading about Vietnam-era military service.In remarks at a news conference ostensibly on trade Monday, Mr. Trump went on offense in defending Judge Kavanaugh, portraying the committee Democrats who have opposed his confirmation as hypocritical and dishonest. His primary example: Mr. Blumenthal, one of his favorite foils, who has admitted being misleading about Vietnam-era military service.
“Here’s a guy that lied,” Mr. Trump said, “and now he’s up there talking like he’s holier than thou.”“Here’s a guy that lied,” Mr. Trump said, “and now he’s up there talking like he’s holier than thou.”
Mr. Trump referred to a series of remarks the Connecticut Democrat made over several years, often at events celebrating veterans, in which he either directly stated that he “served in Vietnam” or made similar implications using more ambiguous language. In 2010, The New York Times reported that Mr. Blumenthal obtained at least five military deferments to avoid going to war, and later joined a unit in the Marine Reserve in Washington, virtually guaranteeing he would not be sent to Vietnam. Mr. Trump referred to a series of remarks Mr. Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, made over several years, often at events celebrating veterans, in which he either directly stated that he “served in Vietnam” or made similar implications using more ambiguous language. In 2010, The New York Times reported that Mr. Blumenthal obtained at least five military deferments to avoid going to war, and later joined a unit in the Marine Reserve in Washington, virtually guaranteeing he would not be sent to Vietnam.
In an interview that year, Mr. Blumenthal conceded that he misspoke and added, “My intention has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward, out of respect to the veterans who served in Vietnam.”In an interview that year, Mr. Blumenthal conceded that he misspoke and added, “My intention has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward, out of respect to the veterans who served in Vietnam.”
But the issue has become a favorite of the president’s, who received five military deferments exempting him from service. Last year, shortly after the senator appeared on television to affirm his support for the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference, Mr. Trump called the Connecticut senator a “phony Vietnam con artist!”But the issue has become a favorite of the president’s, who received five military deferments exempting him from service. Last year, shortly after the senator appeared on television to affirm his support for the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference, Mr. Trump called the Connecticut senator a “phony Vietnam con artist!”
On Monday, Mr. Trump embellished, mocking the senator for a tear-ridden apology that never happened: “The tears were all over the place,” the president said in the Rose Garden.On Monday, Mr. Trump embellished, mocking the senator for a tear-ridden apology that never happened: “The tears were all over the place,” the president said in the Rose Garden.
Mr. Blumenthal responded on Mr. Trump’s platform of choice, Twitter.Mr. Blumenthal responded on Mr. Trump’s platform of choice, Twitter.
“There he goes again. I won’t be stopped or silenced by President Trump’s false personal attacks,” he said, calling the attacks “ridiculous” and “total nonsense.”“There he goes again. I won’t be stopped or silenced by President Trump’s false personal attacks,” he said, calling the attacks “ridiculous” and “total nonsense.”
Mr. Trump also accused Ms. Feinstein of mishandling Dr. Blasey’s letter, which went first to the accuser’s congresswoman, Representative Anna G. Eshoo of California, then to Ms. Feinstein. The senator “probably leaked it,” he said, an accusation he based on “her very bad body language the other day.”Mr. Trump also accused Ms. Feinstein of mishandling Dr. Blasey’s letter, which went first to the accuser’s congresswoman, Representative Anna G. Eshoo of California, then to Ms. Feinstein. The senator “probably leaked it,” he said, an accusation he based on “her very bad body language the other day.”
In taking aim at Ms. Feinstein, Mr. Trump joined with other Republicans, including Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who have called for an investigation into whether Ms. Feinstein or her office leaked the letter to the press, though Mr. Graham has said he does not think she personally leaked it.In taking aim at Ms. Feinstein, Mr. Trump joined with other Republicans, including Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who have called for an investigation into whether Ms. Feinstein or her office leaked the letter to the press, though Mr. Graham has said he does not think she personally leaked it.
A spokesman for Ms. Feinstein said in a statement that she “has made it crystal clear that neither she nor anyone on her staff leaked the letter or contents of the letter to the media,” adding that Ryan Grim, the Washington bureau chief of The Intercept, which published the first article confirming the existence of the letter, said on Twitter last week that neither Ms. Feinstein nor her staff was responsible.A spokesman for Ms. Feinstein said in a statement that she “has made it crystal clear that neither she nor anyone on her staff leaked the letter or contents of the letter to the media,” adding that Ryan Grim, the Washington bureau chief of The Intercept, which published the first article confirming the existence of the letter, said on Twitter last week that neither Ms. Feinstein nor her staff was responsible.
In his stream-of-consciousness style, Mr. Trump also looped Mr. Booker, considered a possible 2020 presidential challenger, into his tirade.In his stream-of-consciousness style, Mr. Trump also looped Mr. Booker, considered a possible 2020 presidential challenger, into his tirade.
“Take a look at Cory Booker,” the president said. “He ran Newark, N.J., into the ground. He was a horrible mayor, and he made statements that when he was in high school or college, what he was doing — he actually made the statements. And now he’s talking about Judge Kavanaugh.”“Take a look at Cory Booker,” the president said. “He ran Newark, N.J., into the ground. He was a horrible mayor, and he made statements that when he was in high school or college, what he was doing — he actually made the statements. And now he’s talking about Judge Kavanaugh.”
The president was most likely referring to a column Mr. Booker wrote in The Stanford Daily in which he confessed to groping a date’s breast as they kissed in high school. The column was part of a larger musing on sex, which he once viewed as “best achieved through luck, guile, strategy or coercion,” until sexual abuse discussions changed his views.The president was most likely referring to a column Mr. Booker wrote in The Stanford Daily in which he confessed to groping a date’s breast as they kissed in high school. The column was part of a larger musing on sex, which he once viewed as “best achieved through luck, guile, strategy or coercion,” until sexual abuse discussions changed his views.
“It was a wake-up call — I will never be the same,” he wrote.“It was a wake-up call — I will never be the same,” he wrote.
Mr. Trump seemed to hint that he had compromising material on the Democrats: “I know them. I know them too well. And you know what? They are not angels.”Mr. Trump seemed to hint that he had compromising material on the Democrats: “I know them. I know them too well. And you know what? They are not angels.”
Asked by a reporter “exactly what situation you’ve seen them in,” he answered, “I think I’ll save it for a book, like everybody else.”Asked by a reporter “exactly what situation you’ve seen them in,” he answered, “I think I’ll save it for a book, like everybody else.”