Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) slammed his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for opposing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh because of his history of Republican affiliations.
Graham highlighted how Democrats have similarly nominated judges with connections to Democratic politics.
"Have you heard of Justice Breyer? Do you know him? You can't say anything, I guess. Where did he come from? He was Ted Kennedy's Senate judiciary person. Where do you think Republicans are going to go find a judge?" Graham said. "The whole argument is, you can be a conservative Republican president but you got to nominate a liberal to be fair to the country. That's absurd. Where do you think Ruth Bader Ginsberg came from? She's the general counsel of the ACLU—wonderful person. What groups do y'all use to pick from? This is shaping up to be the hypocrisy hearing. And that's hard to do in the Senate in today's time, to be hypocritical."
Kavanaugh's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee began on Tuesday, but Democrats immediately interrupted the committee chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa). Democrats urged the committee adjourn because the White House released additional documents Monday night from Kavanaugh's time with the George W. Bush administration. Democrats say they haven't had time to review the documents and not all documents have been released.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) attacked Kavanaugh for being a political operative and asserted his loyalties wouldn't be to the U.S. Constitution or the country but instead to the Republican party and President Donald Trump. Harris initially announced her opposition to Kavanaugh the night Trump identified him as the nominee, nearly two months before confirmation hearings began.
Graham pointed out Democrats' hypocrisy when it comes to Roe v. Wade. He said they criticize Republicans and Republican nominated judges for disagreeing with Roe v. Wade ruling but use it as a litmus test for the judges they nominate.
"Let's talk about Roe v. Wade. Who would ever play politics on the campaign trail where Roe v. Wade? What a bastard Donald Trump is, until you hear about Hillary Clinton. February the 3rd, 2016, this is what Hillary Clinton said when asked 'does she have a litmus test for SCOTUS nominations.' 'I do have a litmus test, I have a bunch of litmus tests, because the next president could get as many as three appointments'—I hope she's right. 'We've got to make sure to preserve Roe v. Wade, not let it be nibbled away or repealed,'" Graham said.
"I understand where she's coming from. Anybody running for president over there [on the left], I dare you to disagree with her. You'll wind up like I did getting 1 percent," Graham joked.
"If you even suggest that you will pick a nominee that's not going to uphold Roe v. Wade, that's the ends of you. But you figured that out," Graham added. "You don't need me to tell you."