Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday asked Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court, how she would feel had she been “ambushed” the way he said Democrats did to Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The South Carolina Republican grilled Jackson on the third day of her confirmation hearing on her sentencing practices as well as vented his lingering frustrations with how he said Democrats treated Kavanaugh at prior hearings.
“How would you feel if I’d had a letter from somebody accusing you of something, a crime or misconduct, for weeks and I give it to Sen. [Dick] Durbin, just before this hearing is over and not allow you to comment on the accusation? How would you feel about that?” Graham asked.
During his bruising confirmation hearing, Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault, allegations he denied.
GOP SENATORS COMPLAIN DURBIN ‘EDITORIALIZING’ DURING SUPREME COURT HEARINGS
Jackson replied that she didn’t understand the context of the question. Graham asked if she was familiar with what took place at those hearings. Durbin, chairman of the committee, cut in that Graham’s time had expired. Graham replied that Durbin was present for the hearing and said Kavanaugh was “ambushed” with the accusation.
“How would you feel if we did that to you?” he asked Jackson.
“Senator, I’ve appreciated the kindness that each of you has shown me, to see me in your offices,” Jackson said.
Graham said that if he was privy to an allegation about Jackson’s conduct, “I promise you just from human decency, I would share it with you.”
Jackson said she had no comment on Senate procedures during the previous hearing.
The exchange came after a tense line of questioning from Graham in which he asked Jackson to explain her sentencing practices in cases concerning child pornography offenders, arguing her sentences were lenient. Jackson said she followed the sentencing guidelines required as a judge and that her sentences were within legal norms.
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Graham’s line of questioning about Kavanaugh followed one from Tuesday in which he asked Jackson personal questions about her faith to illustrate his objections to questions faced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett about her Catholic faith during her confirmation hearing to an appeals court in 2017.
