By Bryant Daniels, Director of Public Affairs, Office of Congressman Eliot L. Engel

Editor's note: Representative Eliot L. Engel represents the 16th Congressional District, which comprises the northern Bronx and the southern half of Westchester County, including Bronxville.

Jul. 11, 2018:  Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court:

“Unsurprisingly, the President has chosen another regressive ideologue to serve on the Supreme Court in Brett Kavanaugh. Over the course of a career that can only be described as hyper-partisan, Kavanaugh has demonstrated a history of anti-women, anti-labor, anti-consumer views, and his ultra-conservatism could turn back the clock on decades of American progress. 

"The fact that Kavanaugh cut his teeth working under Kenneth Starr on the Clinton impeachment tells you almost everything you need to know.

"His appointment by George W. Bush to the federal bench was stalled for three years because of his partisan record, with Senator Ted Kennedy saying at the time Kavanaugh would be the ‘least experienced and most partisan appointee to the court in decades.’

"And Kavanaugh is also on record as saying he believes the President of the United States should be exempt from both criminal prosecution and civil suits while in office. How convenient for our current Commander-in-Chief.

“There was a time when a Supreme Court pick like this was considered too outlandish, even for Republicans. But the GOP has so thoroughly lost its moral center that now this type of reckless choice is par for the course.

“When considering what to do next, Senate Democrats would be wise to remember the lessons learned during the ill-fated Merrick Garland nomination in 2016. There, Republicans completely ignored 200 years of etiquette and obliterated the process by which we appoint Supreme Court judges. They also got what they wanted.

"The Senate should, at the least, postpone consideration of this nomination until after the November elections.”

He previously released the following statement about the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy:

“Justice Anthony Kennedy has served on the United States Supreme Court for thirty years and though I have often disagreed with him, he has sometimes been an important check on many of the far-right voices on the court. He provided critical opinions in cases that helped move our country forward, including Obergefell v. Hodges that established marriage equality, and Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt that reaffirmed a women’s right to choose.

“The consequences of Justice Kennedy’s retirement cannot be overstated. The next Supreme Court Justice will be responsible for upholding fundamental rights for women, LGBTQ individuals, workers, and people of color. Given President Trump’s vigorous and consistent assault on the courts and the rule of Law, it is imperative that the next Justice be a defender of our Constitution and American values, not a hyper-partisan ideologue.

“I believe that the Senate should follow the precedent set by the Senate Majority Leader in 2016 and only consider a new Supreme Court nominee after the new Congress is seated.”

Pictured here: Congressman Eliot L. Engel.

Photo courtesy Office of Congressman Eliot L. Engel 

Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes articles from local institutions, officeholders, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.