What Tennessee politicians said

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.:

“I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for their vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh’s judicial record speaks for itself with over 300 published opinions, 12 years as a federal court judge and a total of 26 years of public service. However, even before the ink dried on Judge Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, his proven track record as a constitutionally minded jurist quickly became overshadowed by divisive rhetoric and uncorroborated allegations. This vitriol highlighted a broken confirmation process at the expense of an exceptionally qualified and highly respected individual. I have full confidence that as a Supreme Court Justice, Judge Brett Kavanaugh will preserve the fabric of our nation — the Constitution — by interpreting the law as written. I look forward to having Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the ninth Justice on the United States Supreme Court.”

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.:

“I voted to confirm Judge Kavanaugh because of his 26 years of distinguished public service and his reputation as a superior jurist, lawyer and teacher. It would be fundamentally unfair and a dangerous precedent not to confirm him because of an uncorroborated alleged sexual assault 36 years ago. Between 1993 and 2018 the FBI interviewed nearly 150 persons in six separate background checks of Judge Kavanaugh. I have reviewed the results of these background checks. It appears that in every interview the FBI asked whether the interviewee was aware of alcohol or prescription drug abuse by Judge Kavanaugh. Not one person interviewed said they knew of such a problem or of inappropriate sexual behavior.”