COLUMBIA, SC — The South Carolina Democratic Party condemns Lindsay Graham’s conduct during this week’s Supreme Court nomination hearing for Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson. While Senator Graham should have focused on Judge Jackson’s record and credentials, he used his time to bring up old political grievances, misconstrued Judge Jackson’s personal beliefs from her legal arguments on behalf of clients, baselessly accused Judge Jackson of being soft on crime, and needlessly pitted two exceptional Black women jurists against each other.
In each line of inquiry, Senator Graham demonstrated a failed understanding of our legal system and the Constitution: the separation of religion and the law, the job of a public defender, the limited role of a judge in deciding sentences, and the notion of due process for all. This culminated in a disturbing rant where Graham implied Judge Jackson was sympathetic to child pornography perpetrators for following sentencing guidelines put forth by Congress.
“While Senator Graham voted to confirm Judge Jackson to the D.C. Court of Appeals just a year ago without any concerns, all of a sudden when the camera is rolling he has had a change of heart,” said Chairman Trav Robertson. “Graham attempting to portray Judge Jackson as a tool of the ‘radical left’ or being sympathetic to child abusers is just another one of his made-for-TV political stunts designed to undermine Judge Jackson’s incredible credentials and character. Graham’s conduct is embarrassing, disgraceful, and only further divides Americans purely for political gain. Senator Graham should be ashamed of himself.”
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