Republican Senator Rand Paul, who expressed skepticism and opposition to President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, has made a decision about whether he will vote in favor of his confirmation.
“No one will ever completely agree with a nominee (unless, of course, you are the nominee). Each nominee, however, must be judged on the totality of their views, character, and opinions," Paul released in a statement Monday. “I have expressed my concern over Judge Kavanaugh’s record on warrantless bulk collection of data and how that might apply to very important privacy cases before the Supreme Court."
“In reviewing his record on other privacy cases like Jones, and through my conversation with him, I have hope that in light of the new precedent in Carpenter v. United States, Judge Kavanaugh will be more open to a Fourth Amendment that protects digital records and property," he continued.
Paul said he will support Kavanaugh as a result of his constitutional standing on a number of issues, not solely on the issue of privacy.
“Of course, my vote is not a single-issue vote, and much of my reading and conversation has been in trying to figure out exactly how good Judge Kavanaugh will be on other issues before the Court. My conversation with Judge Kavanaugh reinforces my belief that he will evaluate cases before the Supreme Court from a textual and originalist point of view," Paul said. “I believe he will carefully adhere to the Constitution and will take his job to protect individual liberty seriously."
Paul praised Kavanaugh's strong record on "reining in the administrative state," his views on war powers, separation of powers and his strong "defenses of the First and Second Amendments in landmark cases."
Judge Kavanaugh will have my support and my vote to confirm him to the Supreme Court," Paul said.
With Paul's support, Kavanaugh's confirmation is all but certain.
Kavanaugh is on Capitol Hill today meeting with Republican and Democrat Senators. His confirmation hearing and vote are expected before the 2018 midterm elections.
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