Republican senators repeatedly interrupted Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on the third day of his confirmation hearings.
Republicans questioned Jackson for two days about his decisions on sentences imposed in child pornography cases, and when he finally tried to answer, they had difficulty allowing him to speak. Many on social media reprimanded the senators for their conduct on Wednesday.
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Texas Senator Ted Cruz pressed Jackson about child pornography rulings and brought out his case-by-case chart he used on Tuesday. Cruz said he wants to go through each and every one of them.
When Jackson tried to explain that he had already answered questions on the subject and noted that he did not have a record of each case, Cruise interrupted, claiming that he had answered her question. Not giving
Although we knew Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was about to interrupt, the level to which it happened seems off the charts.
— Theodore R. Johnson (@DrTedJ) 23 March 2022
“Senator, would you please let him answer you?” Senator Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked.
“No, if she won’t answer my questions,” Cruz said. “If you want to do the filming, you’re welcome to do so, but do it on your own time.”
Women on Twitter condemned Cruz’s behavior as he continued to raise his voice during the hearing.
#SCOTUSConfirmation : Ted Cruz was outrageously rude and abusive towards Ketanji Brown Jackson. He didn’t stop yelling and yelling and interrupting as he tried to answer Judge Jackson’s question. His behavior was disgusting. He was showboating for Fox News. https://t.co/MPsdPw0HyG
— Bonnie Fuller (@bonniefuller) 23 March 2022
Bonnie Fuller tweeted, “Ted Cruz was outrageously rude and abusive towards Ketanji Brown Jackson.” “He wouldn’t stop yelling and yelling and interrupting when he tried to answer Judge Jackson’s question. His behavior was disgusting.”
Senator Lindsey Graham also shouted and interrupted Jackson’s efforts to answer the question. Again, Durbin had to intervene.
In another attempt to explain his sentencing in previous cases, Durbin begs Graham to eliminate him.
“Please, Senator, let him finish his answer,” Durbin said.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: “The Internet comes… with one click you can get, you can deliver thousands. You can do it for 15 minutes and all of a sudden, you’re looking at 30, 40, 50 years.” Jail.”
Sean Graham: “Well! Good! Exactly! Good!” pic.twitter.com/n2Nm1QP8YG
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMilennial) 23 March 2022
Jackson then briefly explained that the sentence should match the seriousness of the cases, adding that offenders could face “30, 40, 50 years in prison”. Graham interrupted and said, “Well, all right.”
“Please let him finish,” Durbin said.
“I hope you get out of jail for 50 years if you are trolling the internet for pictures and sexual abuse of children,” Graham said. “So you don’t think it’s a bad thing? I think it’s a terrible thing.”
“This is not what the witness said and he should be allowed to answer this question once and for ever,” Durbin said.
Senator Lindsey Graham, your racist and sexist attack on SCOTUS nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson insults your office and our country. Your baseless attack on the first black female SCOTUS nominee is an attempt to defame her and her ability to be an impartial Supreme Court
– Assam. Mike A. Gipson (@AsmMikeGipson) 24 March 2022
Critics on Twitter cited that Jackson is a black woman, so her white male counterparts chose to speak up on her to assert their dominance.
“Your racist and sexist attack on Senator Lindsey Graham, SCOTUS nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson insults your office and our country,” said California State Assembly member Mike Gipson. “Your baseless attack on the first black female SCOTUS nominee is an attempt to defame her and her ability to be an impartial Supreme Court. [justice],
newsweek Cruz and Graham reached out for comment.