‘Can’t Make This Cat Walk Backwards’: John Kennedy Grills Biden Nominee Over ‘Radical Positions’ On BLM, Immigration

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana grilled a judicial nominee Wednesday, asking if he was lying about whether he took “radical positions” on Black Lives Matter and illegal immigration in his writings.

President Joe Biden nominated Benjamin J. Cheeks, a criminal defense lawyer and United States Magistrate judge, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on Oct. 23. Kennedy questioned Cheeks about his past writings about Black Lives Matter and illegal immigration during a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“I see you’re quite a prolific writer and … you said you don’t — you don’t take a position in these articles,” Kennedy told Cheeks, who responded, “I said I tried not to take a position in most of my articles.”

Kennedy then reviewed articles by Cheeks, including one involving the death of George Floyd, and another involving police and one on illegal immigration after he noted Cheeks earlier told Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois he tried not to take positions on controversial issues.

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“Well I want to read you from your article. Quote — your words, not mine — ‘Needless to say I have a guarded opinion about the police. How do I teach my sons to respect them and fear them at the same time? There can be no question that police officers have some of these same internal or external biases,’” Kennedy said. “Let me repeat that. There can be no question that police officers, not some police, all police officers have some of these same internal or external biases described above. Do some of them view black males differently than others? I think so. Sounds like a position to me. Do some think black males are more dangerous than others? I think so. Did I read that correctly?”