After releasing documents that Republicans didn’t want the American people to see about Brett Kavanaugh’s real views, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) dared Senate Republicans to kick him out of the Senate.
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Booker said:
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There are various charges made against me by my colleague from Texas. I don’t know if they were political bluster or sincere feelings. If what he said was sincere, there actually are Senate rules governing the behavior of senators. If he feels that I and my fellow colleagues who are with me have violated those rules, if he isn’t a tempest in a teapot but believes that, then bring the charges. Go through the Senate process to take on somebody that you said is unbecoming to be a Senator. Let’s go through that process. Because I think the public should understand that in a moment that somebody’s up for a lifetime appointment, that this issue does the public have a right to know. This is not about the president’s records act.
This is not a violation of the Presidential Records Act. Not a violation of Senate rules, sir. But if somebody’s going to land those charges, I hope that they will follow through with me and Senator Durbin, Senator Coons, Senator Whitehouse, now Senator Feinstein, I hope they will bring charges against us and I am ready to accept the full responsibility for what I have done, the consequences for what I have done, and I stand by the public’s right to have access to this document and know this nominee’s views on issues that are so profoundly important. Like race and the law, torture and other issues.
The second highest ranking Senator in the Republican majority, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) threatened Booker by saying, “Mr. Chairman, may I read the Senate rule 29.5, the standing rules of the Senate for the benefit of all senators? Any senator, officer or employee of the senate who shall disclose the secrets or confidential business or proceedings of the senate including the business and proceedings of the committees, subcommittees and offices of the senate shall be liable if a senator to suffer expulsion from the body and if an officer or employee to dismissal from the service of the senate and punishment for contempt.”
Booker replied, “Bring it….Then apply the rule and bring the charges.”
Cory Booker Dared Senate Republicans To Bring Charges Against Him
Sen. Booker believes in the public’s right to know the record of this Supreme Court nominee so deeply that he is willing to take any punishment that the Republicans want to try to dish out against him. The Democratic base wants to fight, and they want to be represented by people like Cory Booker who are willing to fight this president and his party.
Booker knows that Republicans won’t throw him out of the Senate, but he stepped up told John Cornyn to try it if he wants to. It was a move by Sen. Booker that showed the difference between Republicans and Democrats. While Republicans are serving the wealthy and bowing to a corrupt and unstable president, Democrats are fighting for the people.
Cory Booker put country first, and he doesn’t care what it may cost him in the end.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
