Graham: I’m ‘happy as a clam’ effort to ‘railroad’ Kavanaugh failed

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that he has “never been more pissed” than he was during the confirmation proceedings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, blasting Democrats over their treatment of the judge.

“I‘m happy because the effort to humiliate and railroad a man I’ve known for 20 years … failed. I’m happy that those who destroyed his life fell short,” Graham said on “Fox News Sunday.”

“I’ve never been more pissed in my life,” he continued. “I voted for [Justice Sonia] Sotomayor and [Justice Elena] Kagan. I would’ve never done this to them.”

{mosads}”This was character assassination,” he continued. “This was wanting power too much, and to the extent that I came to the aid of this good man and helped defeat this debacle, I’m happy as a clam.”

Asked about Democratic talk of looking further into sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh should the party win control of the House in November, Graham said congressional candidates in swing districts should have to answer whether they support impeaching the newest Supreme Court justice.

“All I can say is this is going to the streets at the ballot box,” Graham said.

The Senate confirmed Kavanaugh on Saturday afternoon in a 50-48 vote, with one GOP senator absent and another voting “present.” Every Democrat opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination except for Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). 

The bitter fight over Kavanaugh’s confirmation came after multiple women accused the judge of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford testified late last month over allegations that he sexually assaulted her during a party in the 1980s. 

A supplemental FBI background investigation found no corroboration of the claims, Republicans said, while Democrats argued that the review of the allegations was too brief and failed to interview key witnesses.

Ford and Kavanaugh both testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her allegations.

Graham was booed at The Atlantic Festival last week when he asserted that Ford was treated fairly by senators and that Kavanaugh was “treated like crap.”