Republican U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley says the new allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have not shaken his support – nor his call for a swift Senate vote.
Hawley, who’s currently Missouri attorney general, told allies at a rally Monday in Jefferson County that the Democratic efforts to delay Kavanaugh’s likely confirmation have created “a circus’’ atmosphere.
“It really is embarrassing,’’ Hawley said. “I just think the Democrats’ behavior has been shameful.’’
He singled out Sen. Diane Feinstein, a California Democrat who is her party’s top member of the Senate Judiciary Committee considering Kavanaugh’s nomination.
The panel is in the midst of dealing with accusations of sexual misconduct that at least two women – Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez – have lodged against Kavanaugh. The incidents are alleged to have occurred while he and the women were in high school or college.
Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.
Hawley attacked Feinstein’s decision not to make Ford’s allegation public earlier; Feinstein has said she was acting on Ford’s initial request to keep it private.
In any case, Hawley said he was pleased the Senate committee has scheduled a Thursday hearing.
“I think Dr. Ford, I understand, she’s going to come forward and testify. I think that’s good. I think she should, and I think they ought to vote,” Hawley said. “And if these other, this new stuff out there, that ought to be aired out Thursday. There’s going to be a hearing. Let’s have it all, and then they ought to vote.”
For months, Hawley has highlighted the Supreme Court issue in his bid to oust Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.
McCaskill announced last week that she will vote against Kavanaugh. She cited his views and rulings on other issues – notably his apparent support for current laws that allow campaign donors to keep their identities private. McCaskill said she was concerned about the allegations of sexual misconduct, but emphasized that they had not been a determining factor in her decision.
Missouri’s other U.S. senator, Republican Roy Blunt, announced weeks ago that he supports Kavanaugh.
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