President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court is facing questions about whether she sexually harassed or assaulted anyone.
During Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said, “As you may know, I ask the following two preliminary questions of every nominee who appears before any of the committees on which I sit. So I will ask you these two questions first.”
“Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?” Hirono asked.
Jackson responded, “I have not.”
“Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?” the senator asked.
Jackson responded that she had not.
Watch the video below:
This was not the first female Supreme Court nominee Hirono asked these two questions to, as IJR reported.
In 2020, Hirono then-President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court Amy Coney Barrett the same questions.
Barrett responded, “No, Senator Hirono.”
MSNBC’s Joy Reid praised Hirono’s decision to ask Jackson those questions. She wrote in a tweet, “Why is [Hirono] WINNING THIS ENTIRE HEARING RIGHT NOW by asking Judge [Jackson] whether she has ever been accused or convicted of sexual harassment or assault. Like the Queen she is. Hello Clarence and Kavanaugh.”
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1506388360792879109
In 2018, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation was almost derailed after he was accused of sexual assault when he was in high school. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court in a narrow 50-48 vote.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ 1991 confirmation hearings were also roiled by allegations of harassment.