Kavanaugh serves homeless mac & cheese in Washington
WASHINGTON — Pausing in his pursuit of Supreme Court robes, nominee Brett Kavanaugh donned a blue apron Wednesday afternoon to help serve meals to the homeless.
The conservative appellate court judge chosen by President Donald Trump to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy stood outside Catholic Charities in downtown Washington, D. C., where he spent an hour dishing out mac and cheese to a long line of people, many of whom did not appear to recognize the newly minted nominee in a baseball cap, polo shirt and shorts.
“Want some mac?” Kavanaugh asked, as he scooped it into paper to- go boxes to accompany barbecue sandwiches, watermelon and chips.
Kavanaugh was greeted by the Rev. John Enzler, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities in Washington who has known the judge from the time he was an altar boy. Enzler, who attended the White House announcement Monday, said Kavanaugh is part of a Roman Catholic society that volunteers to serve meals a number of times a year.
Enzler said Kavanaugh was already scheduled to participate Wednesday and checked earlier in the day to see if he should still attend. He arrived with a security de- tail but strove to keep a low profile, asking the priest not to tell the crowd who he was.
“He’s a man for others,” Enzler said. “It’s all about service.”
A graduate of a Jesuit high school and an active member of a local Catholic church, Kavanaugh stressed his faith in his remarks at the White House on Monday and acknowledged Enzler and Catholic Charities.
Kavanaugh also returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for a whirlwind round of meetings with key Republican senators as Democrats ramped up efforts to block his confirmation.
Kavanaugh met separately with at least five members of the Judiciary Committee. The panel will launch confirmation hearings later this summer.
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, who had conferred with Trump on making his second pick for the court, called the Yale- educated judge “a very fine man” and told reporters he expects Kavanaugh’s confirmation to go well.
“There will be the usual attempts to sully his reputation, not only in the Senate but outside the Senate, but he’ll be able to handle it, and I have every confidence he’ll be confirmed,” Hatch said.
But, “The American people should have their eyes wide open to these stakes,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D- N. Y., the minority leader.