Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) released a statement Saturday after the Senate confirmed Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying the Democrats' "crazed, hysterical" attempt at mob rule failed.
"Judge Kavanaugh was a distinguished jurist who respects our Constitution and the judiciary’s vital but limited role in our system of government. I expect Justice Kavanaugh will continue to interpret the Constitution and the laws as written, rather than asserting his own preferences as law," Cotton said in his statement. "Sadly, because Democrats have long depended on activist judges to impose their unpopular ideas on an unwilling people, the Democrats waged a scorched-earth campaign of character assassination against him. But the Democrats’ crazed, hysterical attempt at left-wing mob rule has failed, and rightfully so. Today is a victory not only for Justice Kavanaugh and his family, but also for the rule of law, due process, fair play, and basic decency."
Senate Democrats attempted to block Kavanaugh's confirmation by using allegations of sexual misconduct lodged against him in recent weeks. The allegations went back to when he was in high school and college. Democrats focused their efforts on the allegations in an attempt to galvanize opposition and put pressure on Republican senators such as Susan Collins (Maine) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.). Both ended up voting for Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh's first accuser Christine Blasey Ford told the Washington Post that Kavanaugh, then a junior in high school, attacked her when they were at a party in Maryland in the early 1980s. A second allegation came from a woman named Deborah Ramirez who accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself at a dorm party during his freshman year at Yale. Another allegation was brought forth from a woman named Julie Swetnick, who is represented by anti-Trump lawyer Michael Avenatti. Swetnick claimed Kavanaugh was involved in a series of "gang rapes" when he was in high school, but she offered no additional evidence or witnesses to support her allegations.
Kavanaugh has vehemently denied all accusations and there have been no corroborating witnesses to the alleged assaults.
Senate Democrats have called the allegations credible with several stating that Kavanaugh doesn't get the presumption of innocence.
In a close vote, the Senate confirmed Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court 50-48. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) voted "present" to offset her no vote with the absence of her colleague Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.). Daines was at his daughter's wedding but was willing to come back to D.C. if his vote was needed. The vote was largely on party lines with Murkowski being the only Republican who didn't vote for Kavanaugh's confirmation, while Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) was the lone Democrat voting in favor.