CHARLESTON – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin says he’ll vote to put federal Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Supreme Court, and his election opponent says the senator simply caved to pressure from a majority of West Virginians.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey also called Manchin’s decision to support Kavanaugh a “craven political calculation.”
“Joe Manchin only votes in the interest of Joe Manchin,” Morrisey said. “President Trump had all the votes he needed to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh, but Manchin waited … in order to try to save his political career.
Morrisey
“Spending months on the sideline, Manchin allowed Senate Democrats and the liberal media to orchestrate a resist and obstruct circus to smear President Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Manchin owes West Virginia an apology for watching, doing nothing, as Democrats sought to destroy Judge Brett Kavanaugh.”
Manchin announced his decision Oct. 5. He was one of the final holdouts to announce his vote. The actual Senate vote on Kavanaugh come come as early as Oct. 6.
“From the start of the process, I promised my constituents that I would look seriously at Judge Kavanaugh’s record and cast my vote based on the facts I have before me and what is best for West Virginia,” Manchin said in a statement. “I met with the nominee for over two hours, attending his hearings, spoke with constitutional experts and heard from thousands of West Virginians.
“I have reservations about this vote given the serious accusations against Judge Kavanaugh and the temperament he displayed in the hearing. And my heart goes out to anyone who has experienced any type of sexual assault in their life. However, based on all of the information I have available to me, including the recently completed FBI report, I have found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist who will follow the Constitution and determine cases based on the legal findings before him. I do hope that Judge Kavanaugh will not allow the partisan nature this process took to follow him onto the court.”
Manchin also mentioned the possibility of Kavanaugh hearing cases that could affect the more than 800,000 West Virginians with pre-existing medical conditions.
“Judge Kavanaugh assured me personally that he would consider the human impacts and approach any decision with surgical precision to avoid unintended consequences,” Manchin said. “That is why I voted to confirm Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to serve on the Supreme Court because I believe he will rule in a manner that is consistent with our Constitution.”
Morrisey, a Republican who is looking to oust the Democrat from his Senate seat, said Manchin still sides with liberals.
“When it matters most, Joe Manchin is with Hillary Clinton for President, Chuck Schumer and Obama for gun control, and is voting with Nancy Pelosi for amnesty for illegal immigrants,” Morrisey said. “West Virginians and President Trump can't trust Joe Manchin to fight for our values because he is simply just another dishonest Washington liberal.”
Morrisey also praised Trump and Kavanaugh.
“I'm thankful President Trump is in the White House to nominate strong constitutionalist judges, and Judge Brett Kavanaugh is going to be an extraordinary Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court,” Morrisey said. “While West Virginians knew that President Trump would nominate exceptional judges, Joe Manchin stood with Hillary Clinton and her agenda to fill our courts with radicals.
“Joe Manchin was with Hillary Clinton then, and today, he is out for himself, desperately trying to save his re-election.”
Morrisey noted that the Washington Examiner reported Oct. 5 that Schumer’s Senate Majority PAC will support Manchin regardless of his Kavanaugh vote, calling it a “clear and desperate effort” to try to give Democrats a majority next year.
“Schumer's Senate Majority PAC and its affiliates have already spent or booked $11.2 million dollars to prop up Joe Manchin in an effort to hand Democrats control of the Senate this election,” Morrisey said. “Manchin currently serves as a member of Chuck Schumer's Democrat Senate leadership team.”