Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is vowing that the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson will be different than the hearings for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
During Jackson’s confirmation hearing on Monday, Cruz said, “Most of the members of this committee remember the confirmation hearing of Brett Kavanaugh. One of the lowest moments in the history of this committee. Where Democrats on this committee sat on allegations, didn’t refer them to the FBI, didn’t ask for investigations, hid them and then leaked them against the wishes of the complainant.”
“And we began a circus that featured Spartacus moments, featured such nuts as Michael Avenatti whom CNN breathlessly for some months described as a possible Democratic presidential candidate that’s before presumably he became a felon in recent months,” he continued.
Finally, Cruz said, “Judge Jackson, I can assure you your hearing will feature none of that disgraceful behavior. No one is going to inquire into your teenage dating habits. No one is going to ask you with mock severity, do you like beer?”
However, he asserted that hearing will also not be “non-substantive” or “non-vigorous.”
Watch the video below:
.@SenTedCruz: "Judge Jackson, I can assure you your hearing will feature none of that disgraceful [Kavanaugh hearing] behavior. No one is going to inquire into your teenage dating habits. No one is going to ask you with mock severity, do you like beer?" https://t.co/Qy4qw2mhr2 pic.twitter.com/werHUAhahw
— The Hill (@thehill) March 21, 2022
Cruz’s comments refer to the 2018 confirmation hearings of Kavanaugh when an accusation of sexual assault from Christine Blasey Ford surfaced. Kavanaugh denied the allegation, and his confirmation was approved by the Senate.
Additionally, Cruz pointed to an accusation from Julie Swetnick that was brought forward by Michael Avenatti.
As CNN notes, “She also alleged that at some parties, boys lined up by a bedroom to ‘gang-rape’ incapacitated girls and claimed those in the lineup included Kavanaugh and Judge. But she did not say Kavanaugh or Judge assaulted the girls in the bedroom, nor did she provide the names of corroborating witnesses.”
He also referenced Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-N.J.) threat to release “committee confidential” information about Kavanaugh.
“This is about the closest I’ll ever have to an ‘I am Spartacus’ moment,” Booker said at the time.
