MD Senators, Assault Survivors React To Kavanaugh Confirmation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate voted 50-48 to confirm Brett Kavanaugh of Montgomery County, Maryland, to the position of associate justice to the Supreme Court on Saturday. Vice President Mike Pence presided over the vote that got underway around 3:45 p.m. and was repeatedly interrupted by protesters opposed to Kavanaugh screaming from the Senate gallery.

Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday evening as protesters gathered around the country and in front of the steps of the Supreme Court.

Saturday's vote ended a months-long confirmation process that culminated in a painful national debate about sexual assault spurred and supported by the #MeToo movement. Despite accusations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh and a subsequent FBI background investigation, the GOP-controlled Senate had the votes to confirm the judge, filling the seat left behind by Anthony Kennedy.

“There is no question that today’s rush to vote without a complete investigation has tarnished both the Supreme Court and the United States Senate," said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen in a statement Saturday. "But the outpouring of engagement from people in Maryland and across the country is what will continue to push our nation to become a more perfect union. Working together, we will succeed.”

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin called it a difficult day for the country. "For those of us who believe Judge Kavanaugh lacks the impartiality to serve on #SCOTUS – and who fear how his opinions will shape the future of reproductive rights, health care and other key issues – it’s understandable to feel disheartened," Cardin said on Twitter.

Van Hollen shared stories from Marylanders who wrote in about their sexual assault experiences on the Senator floor, which are available here. He said the Senate's confirmation let down sexual assault victims nationally. To date he has received written statements from more than 50 Marylanders telling him about the sexual abuse that they had encountered; in some cases they had not shared the incidents with their own family members.

"They felt it was important that I know why they didn’t report their abuse at the time, why they didn’t tell their parents, and why their memories are not perfect decades later," Van Hollen wrote. "They told me what they do remember. They told me they remember the clothing they wore on the day they were assaulted. They told me they remember the scent, the cologne; the feeling of unwanted hands. These memories haunt them."

In recent weeks Cardin has also heard from many survivors of sexual assault. "For them, I know today isn’t just difficult. It’s painful. I share these sentiments. I am deeply and profoundly disappointed in the outcome of today’s vote," Cardin said.

Former Gov. Martin O'Malley used the vote as a prompt to urge Democrats to vote in the November elections.

Kavanaugh could turn back the clock on civil rights and civil liberties, voting rights, reproductive choice, equality, the Affordable Care Act, workers' rights, clean air and clean water, and protection of abuses from corporate and political power, including the President of the United States, Cardin said Friday when the nomination moved forward.

PHOTO: Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill September 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. Kavanaugh was called back to testify about claims by Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused him of sexually assaulting her during a party in 1982 when they were high school students in suburban Maryland. (Photo by Jim Bourg-Pool/Getty Images)