Democrats are still pretending they need more information before they can make a decision to vote against President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
More documents related to Kavanaugh have been released than any other Supreme Court nominee in history, but still the Left claims we don’t know enough. And after more than 20 hours of testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats sent a “deluge” of written follow-up questions, including 14 pages (36 questions) from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Whitehouse attempted to insinuate that Kavanaugh has a gambling problem, asking Kavanaugh if he has “ever reported a gambling loss to the IRS” or “sought treatment for a gambling addition.”
Naturally, the questions made the rounds on left-wing media websites like the Huffington Post and Salon. Kavanaugh submitted his answers to these questions Wednesday night. If you’re wondering, he answered “no” to all of Whitehouse’s insinuations.
For three of Whitehouse’s questions regarding gambling, Kavanaugh directed the senator to read his response to “Question 11,” which goes into some detail of the nominees reported debts.
In that response, Kavanaugh describes the assets he owns and where his income comes from — all standard. He discusses his financial disclosure forms and explains that forms only list ranges for debts, and that even though his range was between $60,000 and $200,000 for one year’s disclosure, that debt “was not close to the top of the ranges listed on the financial disclosure reports.” Kavanaugh then explained that he and his wife own an old house that requires lots of upkeep and repairs. He lists replacing multiple appliances, painting the interior and exterior, flood damage, mold removal, replacing the porches, fixing the roofs, and more. Those repairs would certainly run someone upwards of $60,000 or more.
Kavanaugh also explained his purchase of baseball tickets in more detail than we should have needed (the Left is REALLY fixated on this). He purchased four season tickets for the Washington Nationals each year for 12 years, as well as playoff packages for the four years the team made the playoffs. He would split games with his friends, who would pay him back for his tickets. Fascinating stuff.
Democrats are wondering how Kavanaugh was able to afford a reported $92,000 membership to a country club, and the nominee doesn’t explain in his answer to Question 11 how much exactly he paid for that membership, but he does say he didn’t receive a discount. He also explains earlier in this response that annual salaries for federal judges had a “significant” increase in the last few years, that he receives income from teaching law each year, and his wife is now receiving a salary as Town Manager of Section 5 of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
According to Bloomberg, federal judges on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where Kavanaugh currently serves, are paid $211,200 a year. Kavanaugh also teaches full-term law courses at Ivy League universities, which may earn him an additional $100,000 a year. Add in his wife’s salary, which is likely in the upper five figures, and you’re looking at a couple who may be able to budget for a one-time expense of $92,000 and annual fees of $9,000.
Bottom line: Unless Whitehouse is able to provide documents refuting Kavanaugh’s answers on his alleged gambling, this was all a big nothingburger.