On Friday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said he cannot support Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh because Kavanaugh would threaten the rights of Ohioans.
Brown said he came to his decision after carefully reviewing Kavanaugh's record and meeting with the nominee face-to-face.
"After thoroughly reviewing his record, meeting with him face-to-face, and listening to Ohioans, I am convinced Judge Kavanaugh would side with special interests over working people and threaten the rights of Ohioans," Brown said."Special interests already have armies of lobbyists and lawyers on their side. Working people need Justices who will put their rights first, not Justices who will side with insurance companies over cancer survivors, financial scammers over customers, or massive corporations over American workers."
Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci's campaign issued a statement blasting Brown's lack of support.
The statement read: Today, Sherrod Brown reminded voters just how out of touch he is with Ohioans by announcing his plan to oppose yet another of President Trump's Supreme Court justices. In one of the most obvious news dumps I've seen, Brown did this on a Friday and on the same day President Trump is in the state - desperately hoping his announcement won't get too much attention. #Pathetic
"No one is surprised that one of the most liberal senators who votes in lock step with Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer would vote against yet another of President Trump's Supreme Court justices. After voting for 100 percent of President Obama's judicial nominees, Brown is now putting party loyalty ahead of doing what's right. Judge Kavanaugh is a thoughtful, experienced jurist who will make an excellent Supreme Court Justice. Once again, Sherrod Brown is proving he's completely out of touch with Ohioans and far too liberal to represent Ohio in the Senate," Renacci stated.
Brown pointed out that the Supreme Court has already stripped workers of rights in recent decisions, including Janus v. AFSCME and Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis. In its next session, the court is expected to make key decisions on everything from whether employers can prevent workers from fighting for the wages they've earned to whether employers can discriminate against workers because of their age. Kavanaugh has opposed protections that allow workers to band together in the workplace, and has repeatedly ruled against workers in discrimination and safety cases, Brown's camp said.
Brown also said Kavanaugh has also decided against Ohio consumers by ruling to weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has returned more than $12 billion in relief for 29 million Americans who were victims of financial scams.
