Democrats stonewall Kavanaugh in light of Cohen, Manafort guilt

Brett Kavanaugh.
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Several Democratic senators have decided not to meet with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, citing President Trump's implication in possible financial crimes.

Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating campaign finance laws, saying he committed the crimes "at the direction of a candidate for federal office," inevitably Trump.

"I have cancelled my meeting with Judge Kavanaugh," said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), explaining that Trump "does not deserve the courtesy" as an "unindicted co-conspirator in a criminal matter." She said the president picked Kavanaugh "to protect, as we say in Hawaii, his own okole," or "backside." Kavanaugh has argued that a sitting president cannot be indicted.

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Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said Kavanaugh's "nomination is tainted and should be considered illegitimate," while Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif) echoed Hirono by saying Americans don't want "an unindicted co-conspirator" to select a Supreme Court justice. Summer Meza

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.