GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham rages against Democrats' attempts to 'destroy' Kavanaugh's life


After a long day of holding back barely restrained frustration, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) unloaded on his Democratic colleagues for trying to "destroy this guy's life."
"This guy" — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh — is the victim of an "unethical sham," according to the Republican senator. Graham spent several minutes pointing at his fellow Senate Judiciary Committee members as he exclaimed about Kavanaugh's treatment.
Kavanaugh testified Thursday to refute claims from Christine Blasey Ford, who says Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. He was emotional in his "emphatic" denial of any wrongdoing, and Graham sympathized with the turmoil he's suffered in recent days.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Boy y'all want power," said Graham of his Democratic counterparts. "I hope you never get it." He accused them of conspiring with Ford to bring forward false allegations as a way to block Kavanaugh from being confirmed. "God, I hate to say it, because these have been my friends," continued Graham, "but let me tell you, when it comes to this," Kavanaugh "came to the wrong town at the wrong time" for a "fair process." Watch Graham's tirade against "this crap" below, via MSNBC. Summer Meza
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal