Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., said Sunday it would not be “good practice” if U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate confirmation process was further delayed over the anonymous allegation of sexual misconduct.
“I think you are going to see this nomination move forward,” Jones said during an interview with CNN.
“There’s really not much that can be done unless this person comes forward, and you can see this, and talk to the person who wrote that letter,” he continued. “I just think an anonymous letter, to derail something at this late date, is just not a good practice. And I don’t think it will happen.”
[New: Woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct comes forward]
Kavanaugh has been accused by an unnamed woman of trying to force himself on her at a party in the 1980s while the pair were in high school. The woman shared her experience of the encounter with the New Yorker on Friday, a day after Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, advised federal authorities about the alleged incident. But the woman originally made the accusation in a letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., in July. Kavanaugh has “categorically and unequivocally” denied the claim.
Jones will broach the topic with Kavanaugh if he meets him ahead of his candidacy for the Supreme Court being considered on the Senate floor, the Alabama Democrat said Sunday.
But Jones added his Senate colleagues should have discussed the issue earlier, “at least behind closed doors.”
Kavanaugh’s confirmation is due to be voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Jones is still deciding whether to support Kavanaugh’s appointment to the nation’s highest court.
