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Nevada's Senators Split Kavanaugh Vote

Joe Ravi - CC-BY-SA 3.0
The U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C.

Nevada’s U.S. Senators are sharing opposing opinions on the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

In a statement, released moments after lawmakers voted to confirm Kavanaugh, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto referred to the decision as disappointing.

“I believe based on his record and testimony, his stance on a woman’s right to choose is extreme and disqualifies him from a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.”

Throughout the confirmation process, Cortez Masto was critical of the president's pick for a position on the country's highest court. However, the freshman senator began voicing opposition to Kavanaugh's nomination after allegations of sexual assault began to emerge last month.

Three women have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. One of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee Kavanaugh attempted to rape her while they were in high school more than 30 years ago — a charge he angrily denied during a special hearing.

“When I watched Judge Kavanaugh's testimony, I didn’t see a fair and impartial justice,” said Cortez Masto during a late-night speech on the floor of the Senate prior to Saturday’s vote. “I saw a man who is blinded by rage and ideology. As a sitting judge, Brett Kavanaugh knows better.”

On the flip side, Nevada's Republican Senator Dean Heller was an outspoken supporter of Kavanaugh and is now using the Senate’s confirmation to drum up support from conservatives ahead of the November general election.

In a tweet, Heller blasted Democrats for using political games and smears as part of an effort to derail the confirmation. His campaign also sent an email to supporters mere moments after the vote, touting the victory by saying the Democratic circus backfired. 

In a separate press release, the senator also addressed the accusations of sexual assault made against Kavanaugh, saying he had read the FBI's most recent report into the allegations, but that no corroborating evidence was found.

Heller's comments come amidst a tough reelection campaign against Democratic Congresswoman Jacky Rosen, who characterized the senator's vote as out of touch with Nevadans.

Paul Boger is a former reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
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