New Delhi:
Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who was facing a strong opposition by Democrats over sexual harassment charges, was confirmed to the US Supreme Court on Saturday. Kavanaugh won the confirmation vote in the US Senate by the slimmest margins in the American history.
The senators went along the party lines and voted 50 to 48 to elevate Kavanaugh to the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court. The elevation of the 53-year-old judge, even with a very close margin, was seen as a major political victory for President Donald Trump ahead of the crucial mid-term elections.
“I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our great nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
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Soon after the confirmation, Kavanaugh was sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in a closed doors ceremony.
“The White House applauds the Senate for confirming President Trump’s nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Later today, the President will sign his commission of appointment and he will be officially sworn in,” PTI quoted White House spokesperson Raj Shah as saying.
“I think he’s going to make us all very proud. I also feel very strongly that, in the end, the process, it was really unattractive, but the extra week was something that I think was really good,” Trump said in a series of tweets, terming him "an extraordinary person" and "a great talent".
The Opposition, however, didn’t see this the Trump way as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described Kavanaugh’s elevation to the US Supreme Court the “saddest moment”.
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“From start to finish, President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court has been one of the saddest moments in the history of the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
(With agency inputs)
