Donald Trump’s minions on the Senate Judiciary Committee are spending their Friday morning digging in their heels when it comes to their rabid support of alleged sexual predator Brett Kavanaugh. Meanwhile, the very organizations that Kava-nope was sure to name—almost as often as he mentioned “beer” and “sports”—are pulling back from their association with the SCOTUS nominee.
First it was the American Bar Association. Kavanaugh (and his GOP champions) repeatedly mentioned his ABA “well-qualified” rating throughout Thursday’s hearing, which apparently didn’t sit well with the group.
"The basic principles that underscore the Senate's constitutional duty of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and facts by the FBI," said Robert Carlson, president of the organization, in a Thursday night letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein.
In the letter, the ABA president says the Senate must remain "an institution that will reliably follow the law and not politics," saying a “thorough FBI investigation will demonstrate its commitment to a Supreme Court that is above reproach."
Next it was the Jesuits, an order of the Catholic faith counting Kavanaugh amongst its members, who did their best to distance themselves from the sniffing, beer-loving baby man. Via a column in the order’s weekly magazine, the Jesuits entreated Kavanaugh to withdraw.
Dr. Blasey's accusations have neither been fully investigated nor been proven to a legal standard, but neither have they been conclusively disproved or shown to be less than credible. Judge Kavanaugh continues to enjoy a legal presumption of innocence, but the standard for a nominee to the Supreme Court is far higher; there is no presumption of confirmability.
The best of the bad resolutions available in this dilemma is for Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to be withdrawn.
Now Heather Gerken, the dean of Yale Law School, Kavanaugh’s alma mater (as he kept reminding the committee during Thursday’s hearing), has joined the ABA in demanding a full FBI investigation.
"I join the American Bar Association in calling for an additional investigation into allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh," the statement reads. "Proceeding with the confirmation process without further investigation is not in the best interest of the Court of our profession."
Who will be next? And will Grassley et al. even care?