Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is vowing that the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson will be different than the hearings for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
During Jacksonâs confirmation hearing on Monday, Cruz said, âMost of the members of this committee remember the confirmation hearing of Brett Kavanaugh. One of the lowest moments in the history of this committee. Where Democrats on this committee sat on allegations, didnât refer them to the FBI, didnât ask for investigations, hid them and then leaked them against the wishes of the complainant.â
âAnd we began a circus that featured Spartacus moments, featured such nuts as Michael Avenatti whom CNN breathlessly for some months described as a possible Democratic presidential candidate thatâs before presumably he became a felon in recent months,â he continued.
Finally, Cruz said, âJudge Jackson, I can assure you your hearing will feature none of that disgraceful behavior. No one is going to inquire into your teenage dating habits. No one is going to ask you with mock severity, do you like beer?â
However, he asserted that hearing will also not be ânon-substantiveâ or ânon-vigorous.â
Watch the video below:
Cruzâs comments refer to the 2018 confirmation hearings of Kavanaugh when an accusation of sexual assault from Christine Blasey Ford surfaced. Kavanaugh denied the allegation, and his confirmation was approved by the Senate.
Additionally, Cruz pointed to an accusation from Julie Swetnick that was brought forward by Michael Avenatti.
As CNN notes, âShe also alleged that at some parties, boys lined up by a bedroom to âgang-rapeâ incapacitated girls and claimed those in the lineup included Kavanaugh and Judge. But she did not say Kavanaugh or Judge assaulted the girls in the bedroom, nor did she provide the names of corroborating witnesses.â
He also referenced Sen. Cory Bookerâs (D-N.J.) threat to release âcommittee confidentialâ information about Kavanaugh.
âThis is about the closest Iâll ever have to an âI am Spartacusâ moment,â Booker said at the time.
