U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh said during his testimony today that emails containing information stolen from Senate Democrats in the early 2000s didn’t raise a red flag for him while he worked in the White House.
Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) pressed Kavanaugh for a second day on the issue during his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, this time with emails released at about 3 A.M. on Sept. 6.
Leahy had requested that Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) release the emails, which were designated “committee confidential,” so that he could question Kavanaugh more specifically.
Leahy suggested yesterday that Kavanaugh misled the committee in 2006 concerning his knowledge of the hacked emails.
The emails, which related to discussion of judicial nominees, were obtained by then-Republican Senate aide Manny Miranda, Leahy said.
Kavanaugh denied knowing that the emails were stolen.
Leahy was skeptical of Kavanaugh’s response, noting that one such email’s subject line said “Spying” and mentioned a “mole” on the other side.
The hacking was one of the most “egregious” breaches of the committee’s confidentiality, according to both Republicans and Democrats, Leahy said.
Kavanaugh said it was normal for information to be shared, even between Republicans and Democrats, concerning nominees.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he didn’t believe Kavanaugh did anything wrong related to the hacking.
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