Mitt Romney slams his peers for ‘preparing for their presidential campaign’ and ‘doing the things you do to get on TV’ during Ketanji Brown Jackson’s hearings – but says he hasn’t made up his mind YET if he will vote yes
- “I thought some were preparing for their presidential campaign,” Romney said of the Judiciary Committee members
- He said he hasn’t made a decision yet but is “digging deeper” into the judge’s background.
- Comments come after Republicans polled her about her faith, her definition of a woman and whether she believes babies are racist
- Romney was his party’s presidential candidate in 2012
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is expected to have enough votes to be confirmed in the Supreme Court with expected unanimous Democratic support
Sen. Mitt Romney shot at fellow Republican senators he accused of failing to show due “respect” to Supreme Court nominee Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during last week’s confirmation hearings — leaving open the possibility of joining the Democrats in order to vote for them.
Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, also accused members of the Judiciary Committee of using the hearings to influence their own presidential campaigns.
“Well, some colleagues on my side of the aisle, I thought, asked respectful questions and elicited answers that I think were very helpful to those doing an assessment,” he told CNN — before hitting on others.
“I thought some were preparing for their presidential campaign. And if you will, do the things you have to do to get on TV, and which I think is unfortunate, I think any attitude like that shows no respect for the witness or, in this case, the judge , it’s not the right path for us,” he said – without saying who he was referring to.
“I thought some were preparing for their presidential campaign,” Senator Mitt Romney said of Republicans polling candidate Ketanji Brown Jackson on the Judiciary Committee
“I think we should show each other more respect,” he said, adding that “the rhetoric was a bit hot.”
“But I think ultimately we will all be able to make our decisions based on our personal discussions with Judge Jackson and the outcome of those hearings.”
Highlights of the hearings included Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) asking Brown Jackson, “By the way, what is your belief?” and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) questioning her about children’s books that assigned to the private school where she sits at the blackboard and asks if she thinks “babies are racist”.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) asked her if she could provide “a definition for the word: woman.”
“I can’t,” replied the judge who sits on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Blackburn said their lack of responses revealed the “dangers of progressive education.”
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has completed a week of confirmation hearings and continues to meet with senators
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) questioned the judge about books assigned at a DC school where she serves on the board
Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) asked the judge about her beliefs
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Mo.) asked Jackson if she could provide a definition of a woman
She’s also repeatedly faced questions about her sentencing decisions in sex offender cases, with Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) addressing the issue and accusing her of going below prosecutors’ recommendations in cases he’s highlighted.
Romney appeared to concede the possibility that he would support Jackson’s nomination — although with Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.)’s statement, she appears to have the support she needs.
Romney did not vote to confirm her to her current post – a position he explained by speaking of taking a “deeper dive” of research. He voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2021, but has generally voted with his party on a variety of issues.
“Yes, I have started a deeper dive – a much deeper dive than the previous review. And also in this case she went much more in-depth when she talked about her philosophy of law than she did before. And of course we’re looking at her court record as a district judge and as an appellate judge much more closely than before. So I’ll complete that analysis and then make a decision, but I haven’t made my decision yet,” he said.
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