The White House is adamant that Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson should receive bipartisan support as the Senate Judiciary Committee begins four days of confirmation hearings.
“Given she has been confirmed three times with bipartisan support, that she has extensive experience, that she’s ruled in favor of Democrats and Republicans under leaders of both parties, she certainly deserves that, but we will see what the outcome is,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday.
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Senate Republicans have foreshadowed their criticism of Jackson and Democrats’ handling of her and other Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who has been slammed by Democrats for questioning Jackson’s sentencing record on sex offenses involving children, defended his scrutiny.
“Some have said that the federal sentencing guidelines are too harsh on child sex crimes, especially child pornography. I’ve heard that argument a lot in recent days,” the potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate said. “I’ll just be honest. I can’t say that I agree with that.”
“I’m not interested in trapping Judge Jackson. I’m not interested in trying to play ‘gotcha.’ I’m interested in her answers,” he added.
Biden has requested regular updates on Jackson’s hearing and called her Sunday night to “wish her good luck,” according to Psaki. If confirmed, Jackson will be the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court, keeping a key campaign promise.
Psaki was not aware of “any direct contact” between the White House and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas since he was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., last week “after experiencing flu-like symptoms,” according to the court’s public information office. Thomas was diagnosed with an infection but does not have COVID-19 and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics.
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“Of course, we wish him a speedy recovery,” Psaki said Monday.
