'This is not a job interview, this is hell': Lindsey Graham unloads on Senate Democrats in angry rant during Kavanaugh testimony
- GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham blasted his Democratic colleagues during a confirmation hearing over allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
- "When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell them that Lindsey said hello because I voted for them. I would never do to them what you've done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics," he said.
- Watch live updates of Ford's testimony here.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh over allegations he sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford when both were in high school in the early 1980s, Sen. Lindsey Graham used his allotted time to blast his Democratic colleagues.
"What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open, and hope you win in 2020. You've said that. Not me. You've got nothing to apologize for," he said.
"When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell them that Lindsey said hello because I voted for them. I would never do to them what you've done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics," he added, referring to President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Addressing Democrats and then Kavanaugh, Graham said, "You had no intention of protecting Dr. Ford. None. She's as much of a victim as you are. God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends. But let me tell you, when it comes to this, you're looking for a fair process, you came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend."
When Kavanaugh told Graham that he'd "been to hell and then some" over the allegations, Graham responded, "This is not a job interview, this is hell."
Graham then went on to discuss Kavanaugh's reported good character and strong ethical standards, arguing that the behavior of assaulting women would have continued long after his high school days had it been true.
"This is going to destroy the ability of good people to come forward because of this crap," he continued. "You have interacted with professional women all your life. Not one accusation. You're supposed to be Bill Cosby when you're a junior and senior in high school. And all of a sudden, you got over it."
Graham ended his fiery remarks by calling on his fellow Republicans not to vote against Kavanaugh over the allegations. "To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you're legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. You want this seat, I hope you never get it."
Turning to Kavanaugh, he said, "I hope you're on the Supreme Court. That's exactly where you should be."
Earlier in the day, Graham told reporters that Democrats can expect their judicial nominees to also face misconduct allegations in the future. "If this is the new norm, you better watch out for your nominees," he said.
Watch Graham's full remarks:
Read Business Insider's full coverage of the Ford-Kavanaugh hearing:
- Watch live updates of the Ford-Kavanaugh hearing here
- 'I am terrified': Ford details her sexual-assault allegation in gut-wrenching opening statement
- 'I will not be intimidated into withdrawing': Kavanaugh defiant in prepared remarks for Senate hearing
- Ford says the strongest memory she has of Kavanaugh's alleged sexual assault was 'the uproarious laughter'
- Ford says she decided to come forward after reporters were sitting outside of her house and showing up in her classroom where she taught
- Here is the polygraph test Ford took following her sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh
- Meet Mark Judge, Kavanaugh's high-school friend and the other man who's becoming central to the allegations
- Here are all the allegations against Kavanaugh
- How the Ford-Kavanaugh hearing compares to the 1991 Anita Hill hearing
- Meet Rachel Mitchell, the woman questioning Ford about her Kavanaugh allegations
- Meet Brett Kavanaugh, 'the Forrest Gump of Republican politics'