If confirmed by the senate, i will keep an open mind in every case and i will always strive to preserve the constitution of the United States and the american rule of law. So kavanaugh is a graduate of Yale Law School and clerked for Justice Kennedy. In 1993 he met ken starr during a Justice Department fellowship and became a key staff member when starr was the independent counsel investigating the white water and clinton lieu ensky scandals. Kavanaugh helped write the final report to congress that laid out 11 possible grounds for impeaching president bill clinton. He served as george w. Bushs white House Counsel and Staff Secretary before he was nominated to be a federal judge in 2006. He was confirmed at that time by a vote of 5736. Now, Brett Kavanaughs nomination sets up an extremely
consequential confirmation battle. Within minutes of trumps announcement, several Top Democrats voicing their intention to vote against him. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer put out a saying that b
for bloomberg, sahil kapur. joe manchin, heidi high camp, susan collins, lisa murkowski, all declined the offer to go to the announcement last night. they did not attend. what could it mean for the confirmation hearings for kavanaugh ahead? it is an interesting list of crucial, potential senate votes that were invited and did not go. i don t know i would read a lot into this. you re right that collins was invited and didn t go, murkowski didn t go, but the three democrats who voted for neil gorsuch were invited and didn t go. i don t know it means much other than the fact it is possible they didn t want to be props in one of the president s dramatic showings, they were afraid he would say something to try to box them in and they decided to play it differently. i don t know i would read too much into this. but you re right, this will be the most important votes to determine whether or not brett kavanaugh becomes the next