All but one Republican lined up behind him, arguing that a truncated FBI investigation turned up no corroborating witnesses and that Kavanaugh had sterling credentials for the court. Exactly one month from elections in which House and Senate control are in play, Democrats tried making sure that female voters were paying attention.<doc-sep>Brett Kavanaugh says he will 'heed the message of Matthew 25' after contentious swearing-in After a brutal political fight that roiled the nation, Justice Brett Kavanaugh took the judicial oath in the White House Monday promising to "heed the message of Matthew 25." Assembled before hundreds of friends, family, senators, and administration officials, in a standing-room only ceremony in the East Room Monday, outgoing Justice Kennedy administered the judicial oath to Kavanaugh to become the 114th Supreme Court justice of the United States. Kavanaugh clerked for Kennedy in 1993. His ceremonial swearing-in marked the first time in US history that a retiring Supreme Court justice administered the oath to someone who once worked for him to fill the seat he vacated. Kavanaugh had already been officially sworn-in at a private ceremony at the Supreme Court hours after his Senate confirmation Saturday. In a speech following his taking of the oath Monday, the Montgomery County, Maryland native who spent 12 years as a federal judge on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals — considered the second highest court in the nation — thanked those who guided his nomination through the various processes. Appearing to choke up with emotion at times, particularly when he mentioned his family, Kavanaugh noted that the Senate confirmation process was "contentious and emotional." "That process is over. My focus now is to be the best justice I can be. I take this office with gratitude and no bitterness. On the Supreme Court I will seek to be a force for stability and unity. My goal is to be a great justice for all Americans and for all of America. I will work very hard to achieve that goal," the newest high court justice said. "Although the Senate confirmation process tested me, as it has tested others, it did not change me. My approach to judging remains the same. A good judge must be an umpire, a neutral and impartial decider who favors no litigant or policy." He continued that his approach to life also remains the same, noting that he would "heed the message of Matthew 25," the portion on the Gospel where Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins, the parable of the talents and where he speaks of the final judgement. "I will continue to volunteer to serve the least fortunate among us. I will continue to coach, teach, and tutor. I will continue to strive to be a good friend, colleague, husband, and dad," Kavanaugh said. Matthew 25:35 records Jesus saying: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me." While the nation is divided, Kavanaugh said that he is nevertheless optimistic about America's future. "As a justice on the Supreme Court I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States, and the American rule of law," he said. Evangelical leaders in attendance for the swearing-in ceremony included members of President Trump's evangelical advisory board, such as pastor Paula White, First Baptist of Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress, evangelist Franklin Graham, and Prestonwood Baptist Church pastor Jack Graham. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson and Family Research Council president Tony Perkins were also present. The Monday swearing-in ceremony at the White House came following one of the most bitterly contested, drama-filled political squabbles in recent memory. As Kavanaugh's confirmation looked all but certain to be approved in late September, sexual misconduct allegations emerged from several women who asserted that Kavanaugh had assaulted them when he was in high school and college. Following an additional Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and a supplemental FBI investigation, a narrow majority of senators concluded that the lack of evidence should not prevent Kavanaugh from serving on the bench. The final vote tally was 50-48, with all but one Republican voting in his favor. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, was the lone Democrat to vote for his confirmation. Courtesy of The Christian Post<doc-sep>(Source: File/Twitter) (Source: File/Twitter) As protesters chanted outside the court building, Brett Kavanaugh was sworn-in as the 114th justice of the US Supreme Court on Saturday. The 53-year-old judge took the oath in a quiet ceremony at his office. US president Donald Trump had nominated Kavanaugh on July 9, 2018, as a replacement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. However, early September an American professor of psychology Christine Blasey Ford had accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault leading to a wrenching debate that captivated the attention of many. ALSO READ | Who is Brett Kavanaugh? While Kavanaugh has denied all allegation of sexual misconduct. Trump tweeted about the incident and congratulated the US Senate for confirming the nominee. I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2018 During the testimony, time and again Kavanaugh was questioned for his temperament with many wondering whether he was the right candidate for the SCOTUS. Netizens were too divided on the final issue. While many called the decision “awful example of justice”, there were others who celebrated by drinking beer and sharing images on social media. I cried when @BrettKavanaugh was voted in. My heart aches for all those hurting by this monstrosity. Ladies our stories WILL be heard. We WILL NOT be silenced. Ignorance, Arrogance and Prejudice will never win. — Grace Birkett (@Grace_Birkett) October 7, 2018 Sad & disappointed that Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed for @Scotus. What an awful example of “justice” for all the brave women who come forward every day. I hope the future is brighter for American politics ☹️ — william henry (@WilliamHGough) October 7, 2018 Still furious about #BrettKavanaugh . It’s ruining my Sunday. — Shebangsthedrum (@Openhighhat) October 7, 2018<doc-sep>WASHINGTON—Stars and Stripes had a damn fine Friday morning, one of which any newspaper would have been proud. The paper had a story about how the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is under serious investigation by the Defense Department's inspector general for "a complaint of alleged misconduct." The investigators found that during Tibbets’ command of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in 2017, he made inappropriate comments regarding women on two occasions; failed to properly report information about suicide attempts through his chain of command four times; used a government vehicle improperly and failed to report the value of autographed photographs that celebrities gave him, Air Force spokeswoman Erika Yepsen said... “Wherever he went on base, people felt nervous in his presence and his holier-than-thou personality." The military doesn't pose. The military doesn't preen. The military doesn't accept spittle-flecked, half-mad tirades as dispositive evidence. The military has its own problems with sexual assault, and obstruction, and all the usual crimes and offenses. But, in these two cases anyway, it is plainly cleaning up after itself. Go back through history and take a look at what happens to republics when the military becomes the most trusted institution in the government. Nothing good, is what happens. Alex Brandon/AP/REX/Shutterstock Early Friday morning, the AP reported that, the day before, Judge Brett Kavanaugh "misstated" the drinking age in Maryland when he recalled his days of downing brewskis with P.J. and Squi. From Time: The legal age in that state was raised to 21 on July 1, 1982; Kavanaugh did not turn 18 until Feb. 12, 1983. In a Fox News interview on Monday, Kavanaugh said, “Yes, there were parties. And the drinking age was 18. And yes, the seniors were legal.” In testimony Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he said all of his comments during the Fox interview were accurate and could be made part of the record. In plain terms, for all his spleen and outrage, Judge Kavanaugh lies about everything. In his earlier hearings, he lied about his judicial philosophy, and he lied about his days as a Republican operative, both in and out of the White House. On Monday, he lied to Martha McCallum of Fox News. On Thursday, he lied about his entire adolescence and his college days. He lied even when he didn't have to lie. He lied in preposterous ways easily disproven by common sense. (The "Devil's Triangle"? "Renate Alumnius"?) He lied like a toddler, like a guilty adolescent, and like a privileged scion of the white ruling class, which is a continuum with which we all are far too familiar. He lied and he dared the Democratic members of the committee, and the country, to call him on his lies. And now, he is a couple of easy steps away from having lied his way into a lifetime seat on the United States Supreme Court. This guy is going to be deciding constitutional issues for the next four decades, and the truth is not in him. Pool Getty Images The ballgame pretty much ended when Jeff Flake's endlessly tortured conscience led him to the completely predictable conclusion that, while Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was "credible," he would have to vote in favor of putting Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court because, as his official statement said: "What I do know is that our system of justice affords a presumption of innocence to the accused, absent corroborating evidence. That is what binds us to the rule of law. While some may argue that a different standard should apply regarding the Senate's advice and consent responsibilities, I believe that the Constitution's provisions of fairness and due process apply here as well." Lord, what a putz this guy is. Before the committee began its meeting on Friday, Flake was confronted by a group of women who had survived sexual assault. He tried to hide in an elevator. They followed him in there. This should happen to him every time he climbs into an elevator for the rest of his life. All that's left in this sorry epic is to count the votes. We will have the next 40 years to count the cost. And, an update: Intriguingly, the scheduled Sunday debate between Beto O'Rourke and Ted Cruz in Houston has been postponed. The stated reason? Cruz "will be in Washington, D.C. for weekend votes." The railroad is picking up steam. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>
The 53-year-old is an American attorney and judge who serves as a United States circuit judge of the US Court of Appeals for the district of Columbia circuit. (File) The 53-year-old is an American attorney and judge who serves as a United States circuit judge of the US Court of Appeals for the district of Columbia circuit. (File) Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday night as the 114th justice of the US Supreme Court, days after he was accused of sexual harassment. Even as Kavanaugh took his oath of office in a quiet private ceremony, not long after the narrowest Senate confirmation in nearly a century and a half, protesters chanted outside the court building across the street from the Capitol. President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh on July 9, 2018, to replace Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy who announced his retirement earlier this year. In September, Christine Blasey Ford, an American professor of psychology, alleged she was sexually assaulted by him. Later, two more women accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct in the 1980s. Kavanaugh has denied all allegations. Who is Brett Kavanaugh? The 53-year-old is an American attorney and United States circuit judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit. He hails from Maryland and pursued his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University. Kavanaugh began working in 1993 as a clerk for Justice Anthony M Kennedy and later went on to replace him. Kavanaugh has worked largely in government jobs rather than the private sector. He served as an assistant to independent counsel Keneth W Starr in the investigations of the Clinton administration and suicide of Clinton aide Vince Foster. Subsequently, Kavanaugh served for five years in former president George Bush’s administration, initially as an associate counsel and then as staff secretary. Bush nominated Kavanaugh to the US Court of Appeals for the Washington DC circuit in 2003, however after a series of negotiations, he was confirmed in 2006 where he maintained a conservative record. Kavanaugh along his career has been present at major events — he helped Bush’s team in the high-stakes Supreme Court decision to block the recount of votes in the 2000 presidential election between Bush and Al Gore and he assisted in drafting the report recommending Clinton’s impeachment, in which he wrote independent counsel investigations can take “too long”, easily become “politicised”, and can go beyond their original scope. At a 2004 confirmation hearing, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois called Kavanaugh “the Zelig or Forrest Gump of Republican politics” because he’s been present at so many dramatic events throughout his career.