President Trump vs. Picks Brett Kavanaugh As Supreme Court Judge
Watch live: President Trump announces Supreme Court pick
Versus Video Transcripts:
00:26
dis kennedys short of setting the
00:28
country to war naming nominees to the
00:30
Supreme Court is arguably a president's
00:32
most consequential power and with a
00:34
choice of Kavanagh a reliable
00:36
conservative the president cements the
00:38
courts conservative tilt chief White
00:40
House correspondent Hallie Jackson is in
00:42
the East Room Hallie give us a sense of
00:44
what's been happening today leading up
00:46
to this choice a lot of deliberations
00:48
Lester as the president made this
00:50
decision to choose Brett Kavanaugh who
00:52
we expect to see walk through those
00:53
doors any moment this is a moment that
00:57
the president understands our sources
00:59
tell us he gets the weight of this
01:01
decision how it could reshape the
01:02
Supreme Court for a generation Kavanaugh
01:04
from nearly the very beginning had been
01:06
considered widely the front-runner
01:08
now the confirmation battle could begin
01:11
if Republicans stick together there is
01:13
nothing that will stop Cavanaugh from
01:15
getting confirmed but if not the focus
01:17
will turn to four key red state
01:19
Democrats Lester alright Hallie we
01:21
expect the president to walk in United
01:24
States
01:54
my fellow Americans tonight I speak to
01:58
you from the East Room of the White
02:00
House regarding one of the most profound
02:04
responsibility of the President of the
02:07
United States and that is the selection
02:10
of a Supreme Court justice I've often
02:15
heard that other than matters of war and
02:18
peace this is the most important
02:20
decision a president will make the
02:24
Supreme Court is entrusted with the
02:27
safeguarding of the crown jewel of our
02:30
republic the Constitution of the United
02:33
States 12 days ago Justice Anthony
02:38
Kennedy informed me of his decision to
02:41
take senior status on the Supreme Court
02:44
opening a new vacancy for more than four
02:48
decades Justice Kennedy served our
02:50
nation with incredible passion and
02:54
devotion I'd like to thank Justice
02:57
Kennedy for a lifetime of distinguished
03:00
service
03:01
[Applause]
03:05
[Music]
03:18
in a few moments I will announce my
03:20
selection for Justice Kennedy's
03:23
replacement this is the second time I
03:25
have been faced with this task
03:28
last year I nominated judge Neil Gorsuch
03:32
to replace the late great Justice
03:36
Antonin Scalia
03:43
[Music]
03:47
I chose justice courses because I knew
03:51
that he just liked Justice Scalia would
03:55
be a faithful servant of our
03:58
Constitution we are honored to be joined
04:02
tonight by Justice Scalia's beloved wife
04:05
Maureen
04:07
[Music]
04:14
[Music]
04:18
thank you me both Justice Kennedy and
04:22
Justice Scalia were appointed by a
04:24
president who understood that the best
04:26
defense of our Liberty and a judicial
04:29
branch immune from political prejudice
04:32
were judges that apply the Constitution
04:37
as written that president happened to be
04:42
Ronald Reagan for this evenings
04:45
announcement we are joined by Ronald
04:47
Reagan's Attorney General Edwin Meese
04:50
[Applause]
04:51
[Music]
04:52
[Applause]
04:57
[Music]
04:59
[Applause]
05:04
and then I speak for everyone thank you
05:06
for everything you've done to protect
05:08
our nation's great legal heritage in
05:13
keeping with President Reagan's legacy I
05:15
do not ask about a nominees personal
05:19
opinions what matters is not a judge's
05:22
political views but whether they can set
05:25
aside those views to do what the law and
05:29
the Constitution require I am pleased to
05:33
say that I have found without doubt such
05:37
a person tonight it is my honor and
05:42
privilege to announce that I will
05:43
nominate judge Brett Kavanaugh to the
05:47
United States Supreme Court
05:49
[Applause]
05:55
[Music]
06:00
[Applause]
06:06
[Music]
06:55
I know the people in this room very well
06:59
they do not stand and give applause like
07:01
that very often so they have some
07:03
respect in Bret's wife Ashley and their
07:08
two daughters Margaret and Liza have
07:10
joined us on the podium and thank you
07:12
and congratulations to you as a family
07:16
[Music]
07:20
judge Cavanaugh has impeccable
07:23
credentials unsurpassed qualifications
07:26
and a proven commitment to equal justice
07:28
under the law a graduate of Yale College
07:32
and Yale Law School Judge Cavanaugh
07:35
currently teaches at Harvard Yale and
07:38
Georgetown throughout legal circles he
07:41
is considered a judges judge a true
07:44
thought leader among his peers he's a
07:47
brilliant jurist with a clear and
07:50
effective writing style universally
07:52
regarded as one of the finest and
07:54
sharpest legal minds of our time and
07:58
just like justice Gorsuch he excelled as
08:02
a clerk for Justice Kennedy
08:13
judge Cavanaugh has devoted his life to
08:17
public service for the last 12 years he
08:19
has served as a judge on the DC Circuit
08:23
Court of Appeals with great distinction
08:26
authoring over 300 opinions which have
08:29
been widely admired for their skill
08:31
insight and rigorous adherence to the
08:34
law among those opinions are more than a
08:37
dozen that the Supreme Court has adopted
08:39
as the law of the land beyond his great
08:43
renown as a judge he is active in his
08:46
community he coaches CYO basketball
08:49
serves meals to needy families and
08:53
having learned from his mom who was a
08:56
schoolteacher in DC tutors children at
08:59
local elementary schools there is no one
09:03
in America more qualified for this
09:05
position and no one more deserving I
09:09
want to thank the senators on both sides
09:13
of the aisle Republican and Democrat for
09:16
their consultation and advice during the
09:18
selection process this incredibly
09:22
qualified nominee deserves a swift
09:24
confirmation and robust bipartisan
09:28
support the rule of law is our nation's
09:32
proud heritage it is the cornerstone of
09:35
our freedom it is what guarantees equal
09:39
justice and the Senate now has the
09:42
chance to protect this glorious heritage
09:46
by sending Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the
09:50
United States Supreme Court and now
09:53
judge the podium is yours
09:57
[Applause]
10:02
[Music]
10:13
mr. president thank you
10:16
throughout this process I have witnessed
10:20
firsthand your appreciation for the
10:23
vital role of the American judiciary no
10:28
president has ever consulted more widely
10:31
or talked with more people for more
10:34
backgrounds to seek input about a
10:38
Supreme Court nomination mr. president I
10:42
am grateful to you and I'm humbled by
10:46
your confidence in me thank you
10:49
thirty years ago President Reagan
10:53
nominated Anthony Kennedy the Supreme
10:55
Court the framers established that the
10:59
Constitution is designed to secure the
11:03
blessings of liberty Justice Kennedy
11:08
devoted his career to securing Liberty I
11:12
am deeply honored to be nominated to
11:16
fill his seat on the Supreme Court
11:29
[Music]
11:31
my mom and dad are here I am their only
11:36
child when people ask what it's like to
11:41
be an only child
11:42
I say it depends on who your parents are
11:47
I was lucky my mom was a teacher in the
11:53
1960s and 70s she taught history at two
11:56
largely african-american public high
11:58
schools in Washington DC
12:00
McKinley Tech and HD Woodson her example
12:05
taught me the importance of equality for
12:08
all Americans my mom was a trailblazer
12:11
when I was 10 she went to law school and
12:15
became a prosecutor my introduction to
12:18
law came at our dinner table when she
12:21
practiced her closing arguments her
12:24
trademark line was use your common sense
12:28
what rings true what rings false that's
12:33
good advice for a juror and for a son
12:37
one of the few women prosecutors at that
12:40
time she overcame barriers and became a
12:42
trial judge the president introduced me
12:46
tonight as Judge Cavanaugh but to me
12:50
that title will always belong to my mom
12:53
my dad went to law school at night while
12:56
working full time he has an unparalleled
12:59
work ethic and has passed down to me his
13:02
passion for playing and watching sports
13:05
I love him dearly
13:08
the motto of my Jesuit High School was
13:12
meant for others I've tried to live that
13:15
Creed I've spent my career in public
13:17
service from the executive branch and
13:19
the White House to the US Court of
13:22
Appeals for the DC Circuit I have served
13:25
with 17 other judges each of them a
13:28
colleague and a friend my judicial
13:33
philosophy is straightforward a judge
13:36
must be independent and must interpret
13:38
the law not make the law a judge must
13:42
interpret statutes as written
13:44
and a judge must interpret the
13:46
Constitution as written informed by
13:50
history and tradition and precedent for
13:55
the past eleven years I've taught
13:57
hundreds of students primarily at
13:59
Harvard Law School I teach that the
14:02
Constitution's separation of powers
14:05
protects individual liberty and I remain
14:09
grateful to the Dean who hired me
14:11
justice Elena Kagan as a judge I hire
14:16
for law clerks each year I look for the
14:19
best my law clerks come from diverse
14:22
backgrounds and points of view
14:24
I am proud that a majority of my law
14:28
clerks have been women I am part of the
14:32
vibrant Catholic community in the DC
14:34
area the members of that community
14:39
disagree about many things but we are
14:43
united by a commitment to serve father
14:47
John Ensler is here 40 years ago I was
14:51
an altar boy for father John these days
14:54
I helped him serve meals to the homeless
14:56
at Catholic Charities I have two
15:01
spirited daughters Margaret and Liza
15:05
Margaret loves sports and she loves to
15:09
read Liza loves sports and she loves to
15:15
talk
15:21
I have tried to create bonds with my
15:27
daughter's like my dad created with me
15:29
for the past seven years I have coached
15:32
my daughter's basketball teams the girls
15:36
on the team call me
15:37
coach Kay
15:41
I am proud of our Blessed Sacrament team
15:47
that just won the city championship
15:57
my daughters and I also go to lots of
16:00
games our favorite memory was going to
16:03
the historic Notre Dame UConn women's
16:05
basketball game at this year's final for
16:09
unforgettable my wife Ashley is a West
16:13
Texan a graduate of Abilene Cooper
16:16
public high school and the University of
16:18
Texas she is now the town manager of our
16:22
community we met in 2001 when we both
16:27
worked in the White House our first date
16:30
was on September 10th 2001 the next
16:34
warning as a few steps behind her as the
16:37
Secret Service shouted at all of us to
16:40
spring out the front gates of the White
16:42
House because there was an inbound plane
16:47
in the difficult weeks that followed
16:51
Ashley was a source of strength for
16:54
President Bush and for everyone in this
16:57
building through bad days and so many
17:01
better days since then she has been a
17:04
great wife an inspiring mom I thank God
17:08
every day for my family
17:10
[Applause]
17:14
[Music]
17:16
[Applause]
17:17
[Music]
17:20
[Applause]
17:28
tomorrow I begin meeting with members of
17:31
the Senate which plays an essential role
17:34
in this process
17:35
I will tell each senator that I revere
17:40
the Constitution I believe that an
17:43
independent judiciary is the crown jewel
17:46
of our constitutional republic if
17:49
confirmed by the Senate I will keep an
17:54
open mind in every case and I will
17:57
always strive to preserve the
18:00
Constitution of the United States and
18:02
the American rule of law Thank You mr.
18:06
president
18:06
[Applause]
18:08
[Music]
18:12
[Applause]
18:14
[Music]
18:25
[Music]
18:25
[Applause]
18:28
[Music]
18:37
[Music]
18:42
President Trump making an official
18:43
naming 53 year old US appeals court
18:46
judge Brett Kavanaugh as his choice
18:48
become the next justice to the US
18:50
Supreme Court let me bring in our
18:52
justice correspondent Pete Williams in
18:54
Washington give us the points we should
18:55
know off the bat here Pete
18:57
last year President Trump chose a former
19:00
law clerk of Anthony Kennedy and Neil
19:02
Gorsuch this year he chose a former law
19:05
clerk to Justice Kennedy in Brett
19:07
Kavanaugh Brett Kavanaugh was a law
19:09
clerk the same year as Neal Gorsuch I
19:12
can't I don't think that's ever happened
19:14
in Supreme Court history the two former
19:16
clerks who served at the same time have
19:19
been nominated to the Supreme Court one
19:21
now on one now hoping to be on just
19:24
judge judge Kavanagh has been a district
19:26
court or at peels court judge for 12
19:28
years here service in the George W Bush
19:31
administration service with Ken Starr
19:33
the Senate had hoped they that prompt
19:36
Trump would choose someone else but
19:37
obviously the president thought
19:39
otherwise Lester all right Pete let me
19:40
go to Chuck Todd he has been described
19:42
as a man with with clear conservative
19:44
credentials and has spoken out written
19:46
on the issue of whether president should
19:48
be distracted by investigations I'm
19:51
gonna go out on a limb here and think
19:53
Democrats are gonna seize on that very
19:54
quickly let's start I think they are I
19:57
mean look I think in his confirmation
19:58
hearings you're gonna hear a lot about
19:59
that you're gonna hear about a lot of
20:01
some of the work he did in his political
20:04
background his sort of pre legal
20:05
background on that front and yes I think
20:07
the idea of whether a sitting president
20:09
can be subject of a criminal inquiry he
20:12
worked a judge cabin I worked for Ken
20:14
Starr and has written a review article
20:16
that basically says in hindsight we
20:18
distracted President Clinton too much
20:21
and he should have been able to focus on
20:23
getting for instance Osama bin Laden at
20:25
the time but let me tell you this
20:26
overall Lester I think this is a pic
20:28
that is a very confirmable pick Brett
20:31
Kavanaugh has already gotten the support
20:33
once of the two moderate Republican
20:35
senators Murkowski and Collins he'll
20:37
likely get it again all right Chuck Todd
20:39
thank you very much and we will of
20:41
course have continuing coverage on your
20:43
late local news Brett Kavanaugh now
20:45
nominated by President Trump to become
20:48
the next justice to the US Supreme Court
20:50
I'm Lester Holt thank you for watching
20:52
have a good
20:58
welcome back to downtown Minneapolis in
21:01
US Bank Stadium well we're about halfway
21:04
through city qualified and apart
00:26
dis kennedys short of setting the
00:28
country to war naming nominees to the
00:30
Supreme Court is arguably a president's
00:32
most consequential power and with a
00:34
choice of Kavanagh a reliable
00:36
conservative the president cements the
00:38
courts conservative tilt chief White
00:40
House correspondent Hallie Jackson is in
00:42
the East Room Hallie give us a sense of
00:44
what's been happening today leading up
00:46
to this choice a lot of deliberations
00:48
Lester as the president made this
00:50
decision to choose Brett Kavanaugh who
00:52
we expect to see walk through those
00:53
doors any moment this is a moment that
00:57
the president understands our sources
00:59
tell us he gets the weight of this
01:01
decision how it could reshape the
01:02
Supreme Court for a generation Kavanaugh
01:04
from nearly the very beginning had been
01:06
considered widely the front-runner
01:08
now the confirmation battle could begin
01:11
if Republicans stick together there is
01:13
nothing that will stop Cavanaugh from
01:15
getting confirmed but if not the focus
01:17
will turn to four key red state
01:19
Democrats Lester alright Hallie we
01:21
expect the president to walk in United
01:24
States
01:54
my fellow Americans tonight I speak to
01:58
you from the East Room of the White
02:00
House regarding one of the most profound
02:04
responsibility of the President of the
02:07
United States and that is the selection
02:10
of a Supreme Court justice I've often
02:15
heard that other than matters of war and
02:18
peace this is the most important
02:20
decision a president will make the
02:24
Supreme Court is entrusted with the
02:27
safeguarding of the crown jewel of our
02:30
republic the Constitution of the United
02:33
States 12 days ago Justice Anthony
02:38
Kennedy informed me of his decision to
02:41
take senior status on the Supreme Court
02:44
opening a new vacancy for more than four
02:48
decades Justice Kennedy served our
02:50
nation with incredible passion and
02:54
devotion I'd like to thank Justice
02:57
Kennedy for a lifetime of distinguished
03:00
service
03:01
[Applause]
03:05
[Music]
03:18
in a few moments I will announce my
03:20
selection for Justice Kennedy's
03:23
replacement this is the second time I
03:25
have been faced with this task
03:28
last year I nominated judge Neil Gorsuch
03:32
to replace the late great Justice
03:36
Antonin Scalia
03:43
[Music]
03:47
I chose justice courses because I knew
03:51
that he just liked Justice Scalia would
03:55
be a faithful servant of our
03:58
Constitution we are honored to be joined
04:02
tonight by Justice Scalia's beloved wife
04:05
Maureen
04:07
[Music]
04:14
[Music]
04:18
thank you me both Justice Kennedy and
04:22
Justice Scalia were appointed by a
04:24
president who understood that the best
04:26
defense of our Liberty and a judicial
04:29
branch immune from political prejudice
04:32
were judges that apply the Constitution
04:37
as written that president happened to be
04:42
Ronald Reagan for this evenings
04:45
announcement we are joined by Ronald
04:47
Reagan's Attorney General Edwin Meese
04:50
[Applause]
04:51
[Music]
04:52
[Applause]
04:57
[Music]
04:59
[Applause]
05:04
and then I speak for everyone thank you
05:06
for everything you've done to protect
05:08
our nation's great legal heritage in
05:13
keeping with President Reagan's legacy I
05:15
do not ask about a nominees personal
05:19
opinions what matters is not a judge's
05:22
political views but whether they can set
05:25
aside those views to do what the law and
05:29
the Constitution require I am pleased to
05:33
say that I have found without doubt such
05:37
a person tonight it is my honor and
05:42
privilege to announce that I will
05:43
nominate judge Brett Kavanaugh to the
05:47
United States Supreme Court
05:49
[Applause]
05:55
[Music]
06:00
[Applause]
06:06
[Music]
06:55
I know the people in this room very well
06:59
they do not stand and give applause like
07:01
that very often so they have some
07:03
respect in Bret's wife Ashley and their
07:08
two daughters Margaret and Liza have
07:10
joined us on the podium and thank you
07:12
and congratulations to you as a family
07:16
[Music]
07:20
judge Cavanaugh has impeccable
07:23
credentials unsurpassed qualifications
07:26
and a proven commitment to equal justice
07:28
under the law a graduate of Yale College
07:32
and Yale Law School Judge Cavanaugh
07:35
currently teaches at Harvard Yale and
07:38
Georgetown throughout legal circles he
07:41
is considered a judges judge a true
07:44
thought leader among his peers he's a
07:47
brilliant jurist with a clear and
07:50
effective writing style universally
07:52
regarded as one of the finest and
07:54
sharpest legal minds of our time and
07:58
just like justice Gorsuch he excelled as
08:02
a clerk for Justice Kennedy
08:13
judge Cavanaugh has devoted his life to
08:17
public service for the last 12 years he
08:19
has served as a judge on the DC Circuit
08:23
Court of Appeals with great distinction
08:26
authoring over 300 opinions which have
08:29
been widely admired for their skill
08:31
insight and rigorous adherence to the
08:34
law among those opinions are more than a
08:37
dozen that the Supreme Court has adopted
08:39
as the law of the land beyond his great
08:43
renown as a judge he is active in his
08:46
community he coaches CYO basketball
08:49
serves meals to needy families and
08:53
having learned from his mom who was a
08:56
schoolteacher in DC tutors children at
08:59
local elementary schools there is no one
09:03
in America more qualified for this
09:05
position and no one more deserving I
09:09
want to thank the senators on both sides
09:13
of the aisle Republican and Democrat for
09:16
their consultation and advice during the
09:18
selection process this incredibly
09:22
qualified nominee deserves a swift
09:24
confirmation and robust bipartisan
09:28
support the rule of law is our nation's
09:32
proud heritage it is the cornerstone of
09:35
our freedom it is what guarantees equal
09:39
justice and the Senate now has the
09:42
chance to protect this glorious heritage
09:46
by sending Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the
09:50
United States Supreme Court and now
09:53
judge the podium is yours
09:57
[Applause]
10:02
[Music]
10:13
mr. president thank you
10:16
throughout this process I have witnessed
10:20
firsthand your appreciation for the
10:23
vital role of the American judiciary no
10:28
president has ever consulted more widely
10:31
or talked with more people for more
10:34
backgrounds to seek input about a
10:38
Supreme Court nomination mr. president I
10:42
am grateful to you and I'm humbled by
10:46
your confidence in me thank you
10:49
thirty years ago President Reagan
10:53
nominated Anthony Kennedy the Supreme
10:55
Court the framers established that the
10:59
Constitution is designed to secure the
11:03
blessings of liberty Justice Kennedy
11:08
devoted his career to securing Liberty I
11:12
am deeply honored to be nominated to
11:16
fill his seat on the Supreme Court
11:29
[Music]
11:31
my mom and dad are here I am their only
11:36
child when people ask what it's like to
11:41
be an only child
11:42
I say it depends on who your parents are
11:47
I was lucky my mom was a teacher in the
11:53
1960s and 70s she taught history at two
11:56
largely african-american public high
11:58
schools in Washington DC
12:00
McKinley Tech and HD Woodson her example
12:05
taught me the importance of equality for
12:08
all Americans my mom was a trailblazer
12:11
when I was 10 she went to law school and
12:15
became a prosecutor my introduction to
12:18
law came at our dinner table when she
12:21
practiced her closing arguments her
12:24
trademark line was use your common sense
12:28
what rings true what rings false that's
12:33
good advice for a juror and for a son
12:37
one of the few women prosecutors at that
12:40
time she overcame barriers and became a
12:42
trial judge the president introduced me
12:46
tonight as Judge Cavanaugh but to me
12:50
that title will always belong to my mom
12:53
my dad went to law school at night while
12:56
working full time he has an unparalleled
12:59
work ethic and has passed down to me his
13:02
passion for playing and watching sports
13:05
I love him dearly
13:08
the motto of my Jesuit High School was
13:12
meant for others I've tried to live that
13:15
Creed I've spent my career in public
13:17
service from the executive branch and
13:19
the White House to the US Court of
13:22
Appeals for the DC Circuit I have served
13:25
with 17 other judges each of them a
13:28
colleague and a friend my judicial
13:33
philosophy is straightforward a judge
13:36
must be independent and must interpret
13:38
the law not make the law a judge must
13:42
interpret statutes as written
13:44
and a judge must interpret the
13:46
Constitution as written informed by
13:50
history and tradition and precedent for
13:55
the past eleven years I've taught
13:57
hundreds of students primarily at
13:59
Harvard Law School I teach that the
14:02
Constitution's separation of powers
14:05
protects individual liberty and I remain
14:09
grateful to the Dean who hired me
14:11
justice Elena Kagan as a judge I hire
14:16
for law clerks each year I look for the
14:19
best my law clerks come from diverse
14:22
backgrounds and points of view
14:24
I am proud that a majority of my law
14:28
clerks have been women I am part of the
14:32
vibrant Catholic community in the DC
14:34
area the members of that community
14:39
disagree about many things but we are
14:43
united by a commitment to serve father
14:47
John Ensler is here 40 years ago I was
14:51
an altar boy for father John these days
14:54
I helped him serve meals to the homeless
14:56
at Catholic Charities I have two
15:01
spirited daughters Margaret and Liza
15:05
Margaret loves sports and she loves to
15:09
read Liza loves sports and she loves to
15:15
talk
15:21
I have tried to create bonds with my
15:27
daughter's like my dad created with me
15:29
for the past seven years I have coached
15:32
my daughter's basketball teams the girls
15:36
on the team call me
15:37
coach Kay
15:41
I am proud of our Blessed Sacrament team
15:47
that just won the city championship
15:57
my daughters and I also go to lots of
16:00
games our favorite memory was going to
16:03
the historic Notre Dame UConn women's
16:05
basketball game at this year's final for
16:09
unforgettable my wife Ashley is a West
16:13
Texan a graduate of Abilene Cooper
16:16
public high school and the University of
16:18
Texas she is now the town manager of our
16:22
community we met in 2001 when we both
16:27
worked in the White House our first date
16:30
was on September 10th 2001 the next
16:34
warning as a few steps behind her as the
16:37
Secret Service shouted at all of us to
16:40
spring out the front gates of the White
16:42
House because there was an inbound plane
16:47
in the difficult weeks that followed
16:51
Ashley was a source of strength for
16:54
President Bush and for everyone in this
16:57
building through bad days and so many
17:01
better days since then she has been a
17:04
great wife an inspiring mom I thank God
17:08
every day for my family
17:10
[Applause]
17:14
[Music]
17:16
[Applause]
17:17
[Music]
17:20
[Applause]
17:28
tomorrow I begin meeting with members of
17:31
the Senate which plays an essential role
17:34
in this process
17:35
I will tell each senator that I revere
17:40
the Constitution I believe that an
17:43
independent judiciary is the crown jewel
17:46
of our constitutional republic if
17:49
confirmed by the Senate I will keep an
17:54
open mind in every case and I will
17:57
always strive to preserve the
18:00
Constitution of the United States and
18:02
the American rule of law Thank You mr.
18:06
president
18:06
[Applause]
18:08
[Music]
18:12
[Applause]
18:14
[Music]
18:25
[Music]
18:25
[Applause]
18:28
[Music]
18:37
[Music]
18:42
President Trump making an official
18:43
naming 53 year old US appeals court
18:46
judge Brett Kavanaugh as his choice
18:48
become the next justice to the US
18:50
Supreme Court let me bring in our
18:52
justice correspondent Pete Williams in
18:54
Washington give us the points we should
18:55
know off the bat here Pete
18:57
last year President Trump chose a former
19:00
law clerk of Anthony Kennedy and Neil
19:02
Gorsuch this year he chose a former law
19:05
clerk to Justice Kennedy in Brett
19:07
Kavanaugh Brett Kavanaugh was a law
19:09
clerk the same year as Neal Gorsuch I
19:12
can't I don't think that's ever happened
19:14
in Supreme Court history the two former
19:16
clerks who served at the same time have
19:19
been nominated to the Supreme Court one
19:21
now on one now hoping to be on just
19:24
judge judge Kavanagh has been a district
19:26
court or at peels court judge for 12
19:28
years here service in the George W Bush
19:31
administration service with Ken Starr
19:33
the Senate had hoped they that prompt
19:36
Trump would choose someone else but
19:37
obviously the president thought
19:39
otherwise Lester all right Pete let me
19:40
go to Chuck Todd he has been described
19:42
as a man with with clear conservative
19:44
credentials and has spoken out written
19:46
on the issue of whether president should
19:48
be distracted by investigations I'm
19:51
gonna go out on a limb here and think
19:53
Democrats are gonna seize on that very
19:54
quickly let's start I think they are I
19:57
mean look I think in his confirmation
19:58
hearings you're gonna hear a lot about
19:59
that you're gonna hear about a lot of
20:01
some of the work he did in his political
20:04
background his sort of pre legal
20:05
background on that front and yes I think
20:07
the idea of whether a sitting president
20:09
can be subject of a criminal inquiry he
20:12
worked a judge cabin I worked for Ken
20:14
Starr and has written a review article
20:16
that basically says in hindsight we
20:18
distracted President Clinton too much
20:21
and he should have been able to focus on
20:23
getting for instance Osama bin Laden at
20:25
the time but let me tell you this
20:26
overall Lester I think this is a pic
20:28
that is a very confirmable pick Brett
20:31
Kavanaugh has already gotten the support
20:33
once of the two moderate Republican
20:35
senators Murkowski and Collins he'll
20:37
likely get it again all right Chuck Todd
20:39
thank you very much and we will of
20:41
course have continuing coverage on your
20:43
late local news Brett Kavanaugh now
20:45
nominated by President Trump to become
20:48
the next justice to the US Supreme Court
20:50
I'm Lester Holt thank you for watching
20:52
have a good
20:58
welcome back to downtown Minneapolis in
21:01
US Bank Stadium well we're about halfway
21:04
through city qualified and apart
