Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) announced Monday he will vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, saying he was confident President Donald Trump's nominee would bring a textualist view of the Constitution.
Paul said last week he was "very concerned" about Kavanaugh's positions on privacy and the Fourth Amendment and remained undecided. After meeting with Kavanaugh and reviewing his record, Paul tweeted a statement that he had elected to support his confirmation.
"No one will ever completely agree with a nominee (unless of course, you are the nominee). Each nominee however, must be judged on the totality of their views character and opinions," Paul wrote.
NEW: Sen. Rand Paul: 'After meeting Judge Kavanaugh and reviewing his record, I have decided to support his nomination." https://t.co/jIvjfk3LfQ pic.twitter.com/bTG9EUgXUV
— ABC News (@ABC) July 30, 2018
After meeting Judge Kavanaugh and reviewing his record, I have decided to support his nomination. No one will ever completely agree with a nominee (unless of course, you are the nominee). Each nominee however, must be judged on the totality of their views character and opinions.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 30, 2018
Paul's support for Kavanaugh is a blow to Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), who has said he will work to defeat Kavanaugh's confirmation with all of his strength. Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate and Democrats need to flip at least two Republicans—and not lose a single moderate Democrat—to stop Kavanaugh from reaching the Supreme Court.
Kavanaugh is meeting on Monday with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), one of three Democrats who supported Neil Gorsuch last year for the Supreme Court.
Some liberals fumed on Twitter that Paul's decision was predictable and he had merely gotten attention for himself by initially "faking opposition" to Kavanaugh.
My easiest prediction of the year: @RandPaul would of course support Kavanaugh after getting media attention for his 'concern." (Faking opposition before falling in line is how he tries to build the image of not being a typical Republican.) https://t.co/ABAO0OcR90
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) July 30, 2018
Rand Paul is gonna "do the Rand" (aka: claim he'll oppose someone, get media attention, then fold like a cheap suit) https://t.co/v8tF2Pfkmj
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) July 30, 2018
Remember when Rand Paul pretended he was undecided on #BrettKavanaugh just a few days ago? https://t.co/LPYGpNQR6L
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) July 30, 2018
shocker!! Rand folds!!!
that never happens, except every other time. https://t.co/reyERdl6uh— Greg Dworkin (@DemFromCT) July 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/ZaibatsuNews/status/1023968742881943552