Washington (July 9, 2018) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today after President Donald Trump announced Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his nominee to fill the vacancy that will be left when Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retires at the end of the month.

“Brett Kavanaugh is a right-wing ideologue selected off the ultra-conservative Federalist Society’s judicial wish list,” said Senator Markey. “Judge Kavanaugh’s record on important issues such as opposing the right to health care, consumer and environmental protections, and a free and open internet portends a rubber stamp for a conservative, right-wing agenda that would move us backwards as a nation. And it should come as no surprise that a president under federal investigation would nominate a judge who has written about the inadvisability of indicting a sitting U.S. president and the need to delay civil legal proceedings against one.

“Justice Kennedy was the crucial swing vote in several Supreme Court cases decided by a 5 to 4 vote, including historic cases on a woman’s right to choose, environmental protection, and same-sex marriage. If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, women’s freedom to make decisions about their bodies, reforms to our health care system, the quality of our air and water, and much more will be at risk.  The Senate should reject this divisive nominee.”

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