Hillary Clinton called Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh’s ceremonial swearing-in ceremony a “political rally” that threatened the Supreme Court, according to an interview released Tuesday.
“It further undermined the image and integrity of the court,” Mrs. Clinton said in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
Exclusive: @HillaryClinton tells me that President Trump’s ceremonial swearing-in of now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh last night was “a political rally” that “further undermined the image and integrity of the court.” pic.twitter.com/g8evcwGI45
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) October 9, 2018
The former secretary state and Democratic presidential nominee said she is unsure how the impact of this confirmation will play out, but she expects it to fall along party lines.
Mrs. Clinton has criticized President Trump for his comments during the sexual assault investigations that stalled then-Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote.
“The president has been true to form,” she said. “He has insulted, attacked, demeaned women throughout the campaign, really for many years leading up to the campaign, and he’s continued to do inside the White House.”
Justice Kavanaugh invoked the Clintons while delivering a fiery defense at a Senate hearing into the sexual assault allegations against him. He suggested the allegations were orchestrated by Democrats, in part as “revenge” for his role in the Ken Starr investigation into former President Bill Clinton.
Mrs. Clinton said his remarks were “laughable” and “unconvincing” when asked at The Atlantic Festival. She added that the judge proved he did not have the temperament to serve on the high court.
President Trump pushed back against Mrs. Clinton’s criticism Tuesday.
“Hillary never got it. That’s why she lost,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed Saturday by a razor-thin, 50-48 margin. He sat on the bench for oral argument for the first time at the Supreme Court Tuesday.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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