Protesters urge Toomey to vote ‘no’ on Kavanaugh
With a Senate vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court expected this week, Pittsburgh activists on Tuesday called on their Republican senator to reconsider his support and vote “no.”
The protesters urged Sen. Pat Toomey to reject Judge Kavanaugh’s lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court on the basis of multiple sexual assault allegations against him — or, at the least, his poor temperament in a sworn testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.
“We do not want a justice system or a society which looks like Brett Kavanaugh,” former coal miner and teacher Kipp Dawson said at the gathering of activists outside the Grant Building in Downtown. “His rise through the system is a challenge to all of us.”
As the FBI continues its investigation into three allegations of sexual misconduct against the judge three decades ago, all of which Judge Kavanaugh has unequivocally denied, Mr. Toomey’s office on Tuesday said the senator would consider any new information presented by the FBI in his decision.
“If the FBI discovers new information during its supplemental background check, Senator Toomey will certainly take it into account before voting,” Toomey spokesman Sam Fisher said. “Based on the hearing testimony and everything else that has been presented about Judge Kavanaugh’s exemplary character and record, the Senator’s support for the Judge has not changed.”
Mr. Toomey, a supporter of Judge Kavanaugh’s since the judge was chosen by President Donald Trump in July, doubled down on his support for the nominee after his sworn testimony to the judiciary committee last week.
Though he also commended California college professor Christine Blasey Ford for testifying about her alleged sexual assault by Judge Kavanaugh in high school in the 1980s, Mr. Toomey said in a statement Sept. 27 he looked forward to confirming Judge Kavanaugh.
“I found Dr. Ford’s testimony to be sincere and moving, but lacking important specifics,” Mr. Toomey said. “Judge Kavanaugh’s repeated and unequivocal denial was also sincere and very persuasive.”
Mr. Toomey added, “Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony has been corroborated and Dr. Ford’s testimony has not.”
Analyses of the confirmation process suggest Judge Kavanaugh’s fate will come down to a few swing-state senators, while the rest of the votes will fall along partisan lines — including Mr. Toomey’s.
At Tuesday’s protest, some held signs with the hashtag, #StopKavanaugh,” while others lifted up messages such as “Pennsylvania Women Will Never Forget” and “Real Men Believe Women.” The crowd — numbering in the dozens — chanted, “Hear us, Senator Toomey.”
Rep. Mike Doyle, a Democrat from Forest Hills representing the 14th Congressional District, said he found Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony “unconvincing,” while Ms. Ford’s felt honest, accurate and polite.
“The big takeaway for me from Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony last week is that he clearly lacks proper temperament to serve on the Supreme Court and that his partisan hostility is so intense that I don’t think he could be impartial in judging cases involving politics and political players,” Mr. Doyle said.
Echoing Mr. Doyle, others criticized Judge Kavanaugh’s combativeness at the hearing and condemned his outrage over answering questions about the allegations.
“By confirming Kavanaugh, we’re sending a message that survivors who are coming forward are an inconvenience and annoyance, and we’d prefer to keep their stories in the dark,” said Liz Klie, an organizer with Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania.
The protest was hosted by Tuesdays with Toomey, a group that has held weekly rallies outside the senator’s Pittsburgh office since January 2017.
Protests against Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation have broken out across the country in recent days, including early Tuesday in West Virginia, where nine women were arrested and charged with trespassing for staging a sit-in at Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s campaign office.
A Quinnipiac University poll released this week showed the public’s waning support for the nominee; 48 percent of respondents said Judge Kavanaugh should not be confirmed, and 42 percent said he should.
Republicans have accused the Democrats of opposing Judge Kavanaugh to obstruct Mr. Trump.
In announcing a vote will be held this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said Democrats have opened “the floodgates of mud and muck” against Judge Kavanaugh.
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner said Mr. Toomey’s obligation isn’t to his party, though.
“Your obligation is to all of the people gathered here,” Ms. Wagner said of those at the protest.