Former Clerks and Classmates are Abandoning Kavanaugh

Law clerks usually love their bosses and have undying loyalty to them for their entire lives. But yesterday three former law clerks for Brett Kavanaugh wrote the Senate Judiciary Committee saying they are “deeply troubled” by the allegations of sexual assault against him.

In a letter to the Judiciary panel on Tuesday, former clerks Will Dreher, Bridget Fahey and Rakim Brooks said that an expanded FBI investigation into allegations from Dr. Christine Ford and other women is a good idea

“We write to clarify that, like many Americans, we have been deeply troubled by those allegations and the events surrounding them and were encouraged by the initiation of a formal FBI investigation,” the three wrote in their letter.

“We hope, for the good of everyone involved, that the investigation will be independent and thorough,” they continued.

“Three former Kavanaugh clerks who previously said he was great just wrote to the Judiciary Committee to clarify that they are “deeply troubled” by the allegations against him.”

In a related development yesterday, two former law school classmates of Brett Kavanaugh’s who previously supported him wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to say they are withdrawing their support for him because of “the nature” of his testimony before the committee.

“Two former Yale classmates of Kavanaugh’s who previously vouched for him just wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee to note they are withdrawing their support because of “the nature of Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony.”

“Under the current circumstances, we fear that partisanship has injected itself into Judge Kavanaugh’s candidacy,” Michael J. Proctor and Mark Osler wrote in a letter to Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the committee’s chairman and ranking member, respectively. “That, and the lack of judicial temperament displayed on September 27 hearing, cause us to withdraw our support.”

The Judiciary panel did not respond to press requests concerning the incidents on Tuesday night. Kavanaugh’s nomination is expected to be voted on by the full Senate this week after the FBI investigation is included and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can schedule a floor vote.

“What I can tell you with certainty is we’ll have an FBI report this week and we’ll have a vote this week,” McConnell said Tuesday, adding that “only senators” would have access to the FBI’s report once it is issued.

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.