Jones To Review Kavanaugh Report, But Still Expects 'No' Vote

WASHINGTON, DC - Alabama Senator Doug Jones said in a media call Thursday he is open to changing his mind on the confirmation of Brett Kavanagh to the Supreme Court of the United States, but given what he has heard about the report on Kavanaugh, the odds of Jones changing his mind are unlikely.

Jones made a statement last week saying he would vote against the confirmation of Kavanaugh, citing the "flawed" process by which the judge was brought through to nomination.

"The Kavanaugh nomination process has been flawed from the beginning and incomplete at the end," Jones said last Thursday. "Dr. Ford was credible and courageous and I am concerned about the message our vote will be sending to our sons and daughters, as well as victims of sexual assault. I will be voting no." (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

This statement was, however, before the Senate agreed to an FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh. Jones said today he would review the findings contained in the report on Kavanaugh before making his final decision. However, Jones indicated that he does not believe the investigation is complete and therefore would not sway him, and that he thnks the investigation conducted this week was "too limited to be of any use."

"I will see how the report goes," Jones said. "All along I have been looking to determine Judge Kavanaugh's judicial agenda versus his judicial philosophy. There is a difference. Instead he looks to have a partisan agenda. What I had hoped to see him say is, 'I want to be an independent judge.' Disagreeing with someone’s political philosophy is not a disqualifier. But having an agenda is."

Jones added, "It is not impossible that my mind will be changed. But I have a very serious concerns that he has a very partisan agenda."

Jones said even before sexual assault allegations surfaced against Kavanaugh, Jones wanted to review Kavanaugh's judicial record, and was met with some resistance, which also prevented him from being able to endorse Kavanaugh. When the assault accusations surfaced, that clouded the situation even more, Jones said.

Jones has been a critic of the entire nomination process, on both sides of the political spectrum.

"We are in a very bad place in this country," Jones said. "The hate and ugliness I have witnessed is unprecedented. On both sides. I have tried to do my due diligence. It is a difficult decision, and I have tried to do it the best way I can."

Jones said he has been accosted by protesters urging him to vote against Kavanaugh and by supporters of Kavanaugh alike. He said both sides have often conducted themselves in an abrasive manner to him and his staff.

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