'Did I Read That Correctly?': John Kennedy Questions Trump Judicial Nominee Over Past Testimony

[0:00] circumstances, end of quote. Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Judge, your spouse, [0:19] Scott's a pretty good lawyer in his own right, isn't he? I'm sorry, I neglected to mention that [0:25] when I was introducing you. This issue about your feelings about sexual harassment and the recourse [0:39] of people who have been harassed seems to have arisen when you were testifying as a private [0:45] citizen back in 2021 before the House, so I understand it. And I've read your testimony. [0:56] I've read the record. I don't see how any fair-minded person can conclude that you were trying to do [1:09] anything to impede someone who's a victim of sexual harassment from being able to address the wrongs. [1:21] Um, here's a quotation. I want to, from your testimony, quote, your words, not mine. [1:34] Allegations of sexual harassment and assault should be taken seriously, and accusers afforded the full [1:43] protections of the law as they seek to hold those responsible to account. Removing one form of dispute [1:53] resolution, however, does not further those goals. Did I read that correctly? [1:58] That is correct. Now, do you, do, if, if I am a victim of sexual harassment, I have a number of [2:09] options. I can file a complaint and try to resolve it privately, if it's in the workplace, with my [2:17] employer and, and the alleged perpetrator. Can I not? Yes, you can. Or I could choose to mediate the [2:27] dispute. Could I not? Yes, Senator. Or I could choose to arbitrate the dispute. Could I not? Yes. Or I could [2:36] choose to go to court. Could I not? That's correct, Senator. Now, do you oppose removing any of those, uh, of [2:47] those options for someone who's an alleged victim? No, Senator. Victims should have their choice of how to deal with [2:53] these issues. And as I understand your testimony, tell me if I read it wrong, but I looked at it pretty [3:00] carefully. What you're saying is that, at least as I appreciate it, that, that all forms of redress should [3:12] be available to the alleged victim, right? Yes, Senator. I mean, would you elaborate on that a little [3:20] more? Cause I, I honestly, I don't get it. I mean, I get the politics, you know, the folks that, Democrat [3:28] and Republican and all that, but my experience, you're not a very political person and you were [3:34] asked to come testify, um, as a lawyer and an expert in the law. So tell me what you said. Thank you, [3:43] Senator. And when I hear these criticisms, it feels very disconnected from my actual testimony. I would [3:48] never try to silence a victim of sexual assault or harassment. My point of my testimony was to provide [3:55] some context for how many different options for resolving these claims and addressing these claims [4:01] should be available to women. Um, and, you know, forcing them into litigation or forcing, you know, [4:07] taking away their choice of one option or another, um, is not actually supporting the victims and, and [4:13] Congress should do as it sees fit to, um, make sure that these victims still have options for resolving [4:19] this, these terrible events. Okay. Well, let me be sure I understand your testimony. Um, do you, [4:27] do you consider acts of sexual harassment to be repugnant? Yes, of course. And do you support [4:42] the right of anyone who claims to be sexually harassed to, to, to be able to have their allegations [4:52] heard in accordance with the rule of law and due process? Yes, absolutely. Are you, in your testimony, [4:59] did you support all forms of redress? Do you think we ought to preclude somebody from going to court or not [5:09] going to court or arbitrating or not arbitrating or mediating or not mediating? No, I didn't take anything [5:15] off the table. Okay. I didn't think you did. I read it pretty carefully. All right. Well, thank you, [5:22] Judge. Um, I appreciate your candor. I'm done, Mr. Chairman. By the temporary power vested in me, [5:31] I recognize Senator Whitehouse. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Chairman. Um, I'm not going to be able to vote for