Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) spoke with host Shannon Bream on Fox News Tuesday evening, weighing in on his Democratic colleagues who have suggested that President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, “recuse herself from any election dispute that can get to the court”.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) on Tuesday, implied that President Trump appears to be “trying to rush” Judge Barrett’s nomination so she can “vote in his favor in the event of a disputed election”, but Barrett responded, telling the Delaware Senator, “I certainly hope that all members of the committee have more confidence in my integrity than to think I would allow myself to be used as a pawn to decide this election for the American people”.
“Senator Coons, who’s my friend, has absolutely no basis whatsoever, none, zero, nada for making that accusation against Judge Barrett,” Senator Kennedy said. “I mean, he basically called her a liar, and it was an evidence-free accusation.”
“She testified that she will make whatever decision she needs to make after following the appropriate procedure about recusing herself from any litigation regarding the election. And Chris basically said, ‘I don’t believe you. You’re basically a liar’. I was appalled,” the Louisiana Senator expressed.
Kennedy then recalled the 1997 case of Clinton v. Jones, in which the Court unanimously held that a sitting president can be sued in federal court over alleged acts committed before entering office. In that case, President Bill Clinton had been sued for sexual harassment by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones, reported Fox News.
Two of Clinton’s appointees to the Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Stephen Breyer heard the case and took part in the unanimous decision. “I don’t remember any of my Democratic friends insisting that those two justices put on by a Democratic president ought to recuse themselves,” Senator Kennedy added. Video Below
Senator John Kennedy’s full remarks:
