Senators clash in tense moment during Kavanaugh hearing
Two senators exchanged tense words as Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
During questioning by Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Democratic senator asked Kavanaugh to ask White House counsel Don McGahn to suspend his confirmation hearings in order to conduct an FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct made against the judge.
In a tense exchange, Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the committee, interrupted, saying “we are not suspending this hearing.”
But Kavanaugh shot back, saying he wants the committee to decide.
“I will do whatever the committee wants,” he said. Kavanaugh refused to answer whether he thought that was the best thing but continued to profess his innocence.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) interrupted the questioning, telling Durbin, “If you wanted an FBI investigation, you could’ve come to us.” He called the move an “unethical sham.”
“I hope the American people can see through this sham,” Graham said. “You knew (about this allegation) and you held onto it. … This is not a job interview, this is hell. This is going to destroy the ability for people to come forward because of this crap.”
