The Political Aftermath of the Senate’s Final Kavanaugh Vote

On September 27th, when Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham delivered a four-minute speech that turned Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation process decisively. An hour earlier, Kavanaugh had delivered a furious, partisan opening statement decrying the sexual-assault allegations against him, which he attributed in part to Democrats seeking “revenge on behalf of the Clintons,” but until Graham’s speech it wasn’t obvious that the Republicans were behind him. “Boy, y’all want power! God, I hope you never get it,” Graham seethed at the Democrats across the dais. A minute later, Graham turned toward Kavanaugh, paused, and a strange, provocative exchange unfolded.