Matsui Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee vote to send Judge Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination to full Senate

WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans voted along party lines to send the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the full Senate. They should be ashamed of themselves. Committee Republicans cast their vote despite Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's courageous and powerful testimony yesterday. It has been painstakingly obvious throughout this process that the Republican strategy is simply to ignore the survivors. Two women have publicly alleged that Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted them. A third woman has publicly alleged that Judge Kavanaugh was present at a party where she was sexually assaulted. Survivors of sexual assault deserve to be heard and believed. That should never be a partisan issue. The Senate must delay the cloture vote until these allegations are properly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It is important to remember that no one is entitled to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh's appointment without further investigation would have lasting damage to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and thus our nation as a whole.

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