‘It’s a beautiful thing...’ Triumphant Trump tweets as Kavanaugh wins Senate backing
DONALD TRUMP’S controversial choice for the US Supreme Court was last night voted through by the Senate.
Earlier, the US President had tweeted of the Senate’s preliminary vote on Friday: ‘Very proud of the US Senate for voting “YES” to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.’
The appointment marks the end of the most turbulent and divisive time of his presidency.
The final vote to appoint Judge Kavanaugh took place after a week of high drama.
Mr Kavanaugh had launched an impassioned defence of himself before the Senate Judiciary Committee after being accused of sexually assaulting Professor Christine Blasey Ford at a high school party when she was 15. He vehemently denies her claims.
The vote to elect him to the highest court in the US was delayed by a week while the FBI launched an investigation into the claims against him.
Before the vote, Mr Trump took to Twitter to mock demonstrations in Washington which saw 300 women arrested, including Hollywood star Amy Schumer and model Emily Ratajkowski.
He wrote: ‘Women for Kavanaugh, and many others who support this very good man, are gathering all over Capitol Hill… It’s a beautiful thing to see.’
While Mr Kavanaugh’s supporters say the FBI report – which has not been released – exonerates him of any inappropriate behaviour, a Democrat Senator who has seen the document last night claimed it proved he lied. Senator Elizabeth Warren said: ‘The available documents contradict statements Mr Kavanaugh made under oath.’
Senior Trump aide Kellyanne Conway last night called the vote confirming Mr Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court the ‘crowning achievement’ of Mr Trump’s presidency: ‘If people look at this as an apocalyptic fight, [Mr Trump is] the ultimate fighter who doesn’t give up, doesn’t give in and doesn’t back down, even if there’s an avalanche of criticism and vicious, vile reactions from the other side.’
Mr Kavanaugh will solidify the nine-person Supreme Court’s conservative majority, which Conway said would ‘permanently endear’ Mr Trump to Republican voters, especially evangelical Christians.
The judge is likely to take up his new position as early as next week.