Judge Brett Kavanaugh did not drop the forceful and defensive tone he took at times during his opening statement once the hearing on the sexual misconduct allegations he’s facing moveed on to questioning.
He raised his voice repeatedly, interrupted Democratic senators as they asked him questions, and even brushed off some of the questions from Rachel Mitchell, the prosecutor tapped by Judiciary Republicans to ask their questions.
“No, no, no, no,” Kavanaugh shouted at Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT), as the Democrat attempted to press him about his high school yearbook while Kavanaugh touted his good grades in school. “I am going to talk about my high school record if you’re going to sit there and mock me.”
Chairman Chuck Grassley interrupted to ask that Kavanaugh be allowed to answer fully, in what seemed to be an attempt to cool down the temperature of the exchange.
It was not the first time Kavanaugh interrupted a Democrat’s inquiry. He also interrupted Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) as she tried to ask him if he supported having the FBI investigate the claims made by Blasey Ford.
“You’re interviewing me. You’re interviewing me. You’re doing it, senator. I’m sorry to interrupt, but you’re doing it,” he said, looking indignant.
Even when Mitchell went through a line of questioning about his drinking habits, which appeared designed to inoculate Kavanaugh from claims that he might have been so drunk he could have forgotten assaulting someone in high school, he looked incredulous that he was even being asked.
He looked annoyed when she asked if he ever woke up in fewer clothes or clothes in a different condition that what he remembered when he went to sleep.
“No, no,” he said.
When Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asked him if he’s ever drank so much he forgot things that happened night before he turned the question on her.
“You’re asking about black out, I don’t know — have you?”
Kavanaugh later apologized to Klobuchar for the question.
Kavanaugh asks Sen Klobuchar multiple times if she's had alcoholic blackouts. pic.twitter.com/3huBRb2JEo
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 27, 2018