Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Kavanaugh vows to ‘always be a team player’ on court
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump apologized to Brett Kavanaugh for the bitter battle over his confirmation to the Supreme Court and declared him “innocent” of the sexual assault allegations that nearly derailed his nomination.
“I want to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the incredible pain you have been forced to endure,” Trump said Monday night during a ceremonial swearing-in at the White House. “You sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent.”
Kavanaugh, acknowledging the “contentious and emotional” fight over his confirmation, said he had “no bitterness” and promised to “always be a team player on the team of nine.”
Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, whom Kavanaugh once clerked for and whose place he has taken on the court, then administered the ceremonial oath of office.
Kavanaugh’s installation cements the strongest Supreme Court conservative majority since the New Deal, delivering on a decadeslong ambition of the American right.
Trump has spent the past few days relishing Kavanaugh’s confirmation, which appeared in doubt as recently as a week ago after three women made sexual assault allegations against him. At a speech earlier Monday in Florida, Trump denounced the accusations as “a hoax” perpetrated “by people that are evil.”
All eight of the Supreme Court’s other justices attended the White House ceremony, a show of collegiality by members of an ideologically divided court. Kavanaugh was joined at the ceremony by his wife and two daughters.
Kavanaugh will take the bench on the Supreme Court for the first time Tuesday.
Trump’s first high court appointee, Neil Gorsuch, also took part in a White House oath ceremony.